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

Making headlines: Ramaphosa signs Electoral Matters Amendment Bill into law despite criticism; Zackie Achmat is ready to be an MP but won't vote for Steenhuisen as President; And, ActionSA confirms safe retrieval of Ngobeni, Gafane following kidnapping

Ramaphosa signs Electoral Matters Amendment Bill into law despite criticism

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Electoral Matters Amendment Bill, amid criticism from civil society organisations and political parties.

Ramaphosa said that in a year in which voters were presented with the greatest diversity of electoral choice, the legislation “constitutes tangible, material support for a vibrant, competitive, open and equitable electoral system and democratic culture”.

The Bill was passed by the National Council of Provinces in March and sent to Ramaphosa for assent and is a sequel to the Electoral Amendment Act that was passed last year to provide for independent candidates to stand for election in Parliament and provincial legislatures.

Ramaphosa noted that while the Represented Political Parties Fund was resourced by the fiscus, the Multi-Party Democracy Fund aimed to raise and distribute donated funds from the private sector to represented political parties.

He added that the Fund would now include independent candidates.

Last month, ten opposition parties represented in Parliament petitioned Ramaphosa to not sign into law the Bill, on the grounds that it is unconstitutional.

Zackie Achmat is ready to be an MP but won't vote for Steenhuisen as President

Former African National Congress member, prominent activist and now independent candidate Zackie Achmat believes a coalition government is likely after the 2024 elections but advised that stability is needed to move the country forward.

Speaking exclusively with Polity today, he said stability and the rule of law were needed to improve the conditions of the working class.

He highlighted that he wouldn’t enter a coalition but he would vote for a President, but stating that he couldn’t imagine voting for Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen.

Achmat, who is one of the 11 independent candidates aiming for seats in the National Assembly and provincial legislatures in this year’s elections, said his decision to stand for Parliament was a difficult one, particularly as the ANC had been his only political home.

And, ActionSA confirms safe retrieval of Ngobeni, Gafane following kidnapping

ActionSA has confirmed that its Gauteng Premier candidate Funzi Ngobeni and Youth Forum chairperson Hluphi Gafane are unharmed but “undoubtedly shaken from being hijacked”.

It is confirmed that Ngobeni and Gafane were hijacked in Olivenhoutbosch, in Johannesburg at about 19:00 yesterday evening and held by the hijackers, eventually being located in the Benoni area.

The party confirmed the retrieval of Ngobeni and Gafane, at about 22:45 last night.

ActionSA said it was grateful to members of the South African Police Service who were “incredibly responsive” and “deeply humbled” by the overwhelming outpouring of support and concern from South Africans.

ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont said the party requested that Ngobeni and Gafane be afforded the space to recover from their ordeal with their families before a more substantive briefing of these events can be provided.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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