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

Making headlines: South Africa accuses Israel at World Court of genocidal acts in Gaza; Former ANC war combatants face off as MKMVA members join Zuma's new MK Party; And, Sassa paid R140m to dead beneficiaries over the last three years, Parliament hears

South Africa accuses Israel at World Court of genocidal acts in Gaza

South Africa has accused Israel of subjecting Palestinians to genocidal acts at the opening of hearings at the top United Nations court today, on a case brought against the devastating Israeli military campaign in Gaza.

In the case brought to the International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, South Africa demands an emergency suspension of Israel's military campaign in the Palestinian enclave.

South Africa contends that Israel has transgressed Article Two of the (Genocide) convention, committing acts that fall within the definition of genocide. The actions show a systematic pattern of conduct from which genocide can be inferred, Adila Hassim, advocate of South Africa's high court, told the ICJ.

South Africa points to Israel's sustained bombing campaign which has killed over 23 000 people in the small, densely populated Gaza Strip, according to Gaza health authorities.

Israel launched all-out war after a cross-border rampage on October 7 by militants of Gaza's ruling Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in which Israel says 1 200 people were killed and 240 taken hostage back to Gaza.

The ICJ is hearing South Africa's arguments today and Israel's response to the allegations on Friday.

Former ANC war combatants face off as MKMVA members join Zuma's new MK Party

A group claiming to be members of the MK Military Veterans Association pledged their support to Jacob Zuma's MK Party.

However, African National Congress Veterans' League president Snuki Zikalala said any former ANC war combatants joining the MK Party were doing so in their own capacity because the MKMVA no longer exists.

Though the group had yet to join the MK Party officially, its members pledged support for the new party after Zuma ally and former finance minister Des van Rooyen, who acts as MKMVA's treasurer, gave them the green light.

The former war combatants told News24 that, after being neglected by the ANC and its leaders, joining the MK Party was "a no-brainer".

But Zikalala told News24 the ANCVL was not worried.

Zikalala said the new party was doomed to fail because "Zuma had also failed as president of the country".

And, Sassa paid R140m to dead beneficiaries over the last three years, Parliament hears

South Africa's social security payments remain a cesspool of irregularities as the beleaguered entity paid R140-million to dead beneficiaries.

Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu told Parliament that 75 000 deceased beneficiaries received grant payments over the last three financial years.

Zulu revealed details of the staggering amounts in response to a written parliamentary question from the Democratic Alliance's Jacques Smalle.

In her response, Zulu admitted to the mounting problems facing the South African Social Security Agency.

Sassa works closely with the Department of Home Affairs on deceased data validation and conducts monthly checks to confirm the life status of beneficiaries before a payment is generated. Payment is effected to beneficiaries who are confirmed to be alive, as per validation outcomes, she said.

During the 2021/2022 financial year, Sassa paid grants to 32 920 deceased beneficiaries. The following year, 26 512 dead beneficiaries were paid.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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