For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Shomolekae.

Making headlines: World Court says Israel must take steps to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza; ANC weighs parting ways with Zuma; And, City of Tshwane approves report to lease two power stations to independent producers

World Court says Israel must take steps to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza

The World Court today ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent acts of genocide as it wages war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

The court said Israel must ensure its forces do not commit genocide and take measures to improve the humanitarian situation for Palestinians in the enclave.

The court did not rule on the core of the case brought by South Africa - whether genocide has occurred in Gaza. But it recognised the right of Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from acts of genocide.

In bringing the case to the International Court of Justice, South Africa had requested an immediate halt to Israel's military operation, which has laid waste to much of the enclave and killed more than 25 000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. The court did not grant that.

Israel had asked the court to reject the case outright, saying it respects international law and has a right to defend itself.

ANC weighs parting ways with Zuma

The top leadership of South Africa’s ruling party will consider whether it should part ways with its former leader Jacob Zuma at a three-day meeting that begins today, a move that will likely alienate part of its support base as it gears up to contest its toughest election yet.

Zuma broke ranks with the African National Congress last month when he announced that he was campaigning for the newly formed uMkhonto Wesizwe party — even as he insisted that he remains a member of the ANC.

Zuma ruled South Africa for almost nine years through a series of scandals before the ANC forced him to step down in 2018 to stem a loss of support. A judicial commission of inquiry found there was wide-scale looting of State coffers and the hollowing out of key institutions during his tenure and that it took place with his tacit consent — an allegation he denies.

KwaZulu-Natal, which is currently ruled by the ANC and is the second-most populous province, is set to be a key battleground in elections that are due to take place within the next seven months, with several surveys showing the party risks losing outright control. While it’s unclear whether Zuma’s popularity will translate into votes for the uMkhonto Wesizwe party, the ANC does run the risk of angering his sympathisers.

And, City of Tshwane approves report to lease two power stations to independent producers

The City of Tshwane could be closer to an "energy-secure" metro, having approved a second report allowing it to proceed with the 40-year lease of its Rooiwal and Pretoria West power stations to independent power producers.

The mayor, Cilliers Brink, said the approval of the report followed positive engagements with the public and other relevant stakeholders.

He added that the city sought to secure at least 1 000 MW of alternative energy.

Brink said the city had coughed up R300-million yearly on salaries for staff and maintenance at the power stations.

He said both stations had not been in operation since 2012, which he attributed to the cost of stockpiling coal to operate the stations.

Yesterday, Brink assured Tshwane residents that the move would benefit them.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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