For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: AfriForum welcomes court ruling in favour of publishing 2024 matric results in newspapers; Zuma threatens legal action should ANC not reinstate his membership; And, Ramaphosa says ANC commits to renewal, rebuilding as it celebrates 113th anniversary

AfriForum welcomes court ruling in favour of publishing 2024 matric results in newspapers

AfriForum has welcomed a Pretoria High Court ruling that allows the publication of the 2024 matric results in newspapers, rejecting the urgent application by the Information Regulator seeking to block its release.

The court also ordered the IR to pay AfriForum’s legal costs. The decision came after a hearing yesterday, where Judge Ronèl Tolmay ruled that the results should be published in the public interest.

The IR had argued that publishing the matric results in the media would infringe on the privacy rights of the students. However, Judge Tolmay sided with the argument that the publication of the results serves the broader public interest, affirming that they should be made available on public platforms and through printed media.

AfriForum, and several other organisations, had been added as interested parties in the case, which was brought against the Department of Basic Education.

Zuma threatens legal action should ANC not reinstate his membership

Former African National Congress President Jacob Zuma today threatened legal action against the party if it doesn’t reinstate his membership by January 31.

In a statement issued on behalf of the former President, the Jacob Zuma Foundation urged the ANC to prioritise “fairness, consistency, and adherence” and to ensure that party members are protected from “selective disciplinary actions” or “factional vendettas.”

In a letter of demand sent to the ANC by Attorneys representing the Patron of the JG Zuma Foundation, it said Zuma’s ANC membership was “unprocedural” in its termination late last year.

The letter highlighted irregularities that Zuma’s lawyers believe an independent legal review would likely find invalid, pointing to the ANC’s apparent failure or refusal to accede to the requirements to hold the disciplinary process and appeal hearing physically after having agreed to do so, and its failure to hold the process in public.

The letter also pointed to the ANC’s failure to give reasons for the dismissal of the appeal.

And, Ramaphosa says ANC commits to renewal, rebuilding as it celebrates 113th anniversary

In celebrating the African National Congress’s 113th anniversary, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the party is determined to work to rebuild people’s trust in the ANC.

The ANC is set to celebrate its anniversary on Saturday, in Khayelitsha, in the Western Cape, where Ramaphosa will present the annual January 8th Statement.

Party leaders kicked off the festivities this week, with a visit to Robben Island on Wednesday, which Ramaphosa said occupies a significant place in the ANC’s history.

He stated that the party will prevail, as it has done so before, and stressed is committed to renewal and rebuilding.

Ramaphosa said the ANC has learnt from the experience of those imprisoned on Robben Island that rebuilding a movement requires effective organisation and thorough political engagement.

He highlighted that rebuilding requires vibrant democratic practice, accountability and discipline.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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