For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is Polity's daily podcast.
Making headlines:
MK Party says Zuma was not informed of ANC expulsion ruling
Ramokgopa announces electricity tariff review amid affordability 'crisis' for poor households
And, Uganda court charges 36 opposition supporters with terrorism-related offences
MK Party says Zuma was not informed of ANC expulsion ruling
Former President Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe Party today accused the African National Congress of using apartheid-era tactics following his expulsion from the former ruling party over the weekend.
The MKP hit back against a supposed leaked ruling from the ANC's National Disciplinary Committee that the former ANC leader had been expelled as a party member following his hearing last week.
Zuma founded the MKP in December 2023, while still a member of the ANC. The former ruling party then charged Zuma, ahead of the 2024 elections, for his support of the MKP, in violation of the party's constitution.
The MKP said, on behalf of Zuma, it was shocked and dismayed to learn from the media of Zuma's expulsion. It claimed the alleged leak of the ANC's report was a deliberate attempt by ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa to undermine Zuma.
Ramokgopa announces electricity tariff review amid affordability 'crisis' for poor households
Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reports that a review of South Africa's electricity pricing policy will be launched with the aim of addressing a rising affordability "crisis", which is undermining electricity access for a growing number of poor consumers.
The review would be undertaken in consultation with the South African Local Government Association, Eskom, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa and other stakeholders, and could have far-reaching implications for the way electricity tariffs are set and how low-income households are subsidised.
The Minister was speaking against the backdrop of protests in Johannesburg following the introduction of a R200 monthly surcharge on pre-paid customers to cover City Power's network costs, as well as the implementation of load-reduction measures in areas where substations were at risk because of overloading caused by illegal connections.
Ramokgopa said poor communities were increasingly unable to afford steeply rising electricity tariffs, while the support being provided through the monthly 50 kWh free basic electricity allowance was both inadequate and failing to reach most of the indigent households for which it was intended.
Uganda court charges 36 opposition supporters with terrorism-related offences
A Ugandan court charged 36 opposition supporters with terrorism-related offences after they were deported from neighbouring Kenya where they had travelled to attend a training course, court papers seen by Reuters showed.
The 36 people, who are members of the Forum for Democratic Change, one of Uganda's biggest opposition parties, deny the charges. Their lawyer, Erias Lukwago, told reporters outside the magistrates' court in Kampala the charges were "ridiculous".
The case comes amid protests by young people in both Uganda and Kenya against corruption, high taxes and other grievances.
Kenyan authorities detained and then deported the 36 people after they had travelled to the western Kenyan city of Kisumu on July 23 to take part in a leadership and governance training course, their lawyer and party officials said.
That's a roundup of news making headlines today
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