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

Making headlines: IEC records over 1m voter registrations over first registration weekend; Ramaphosa warns South Africans from turning against each other in Gaza-Israeli conflict; And, AG Tsakani Maluleke appointed as external auditor for Unesco

IEC records over 1m voter registrations over first registration weekend

The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa has applauded the more than one-million South Africans who have used its online platform or who have visited voter registration stations to confirm their personal details and register to vote.

The Commission held its first voter registration weekend to allow all eligible voters to register to vote for the 2024 national general elections. 

The IEC noted that at the close of day one of the registration weekend, over a million registrations at 23 296 voting stations and an all-time milestone of over 100 000 online registrations were recorded.

On Sunday, day two, the figure for online registrations stood at 40 000.

The IEC said that at 12:30 on Sunday, more than 600 000 registration transactions had been recorded at voting stations.

Ramaphosa warns South Africans from turning against each other in Gaza-Israeli conflict

President Cyril Ramaphosa noted that as emotive as the Israel-Palestine issue may be for many South Africans, particularly given the country’s own history of discrimination and oppression, citizens must not let it deepen divisions between them.

It is now over a month since the attacks in Israel that resulted in the intense violence in Palestine.

Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly letter to the nation that as the bombardment of Gaza continues, there have been pro-Palestinian demonstrations around the world, as well as those expressing solidarity with Israel.

South Africa has also seen protests, convened by civil society organisations, political parties and religious groupings.

Last week, police had to intervene in a confrontation between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian supporters at a demonstration in Cape Town.

Ramaphosa noted that while this incident is troubling and unacceptable, government commends South Africans who have participated in orderly and peaceful demonstrations.

And, AG Tsakani Maluleke appointed as external auditor for Unesco

South Africa’s renowned Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke has been appointed as external auditor for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation for the next six years.

Maluleke, the first woman AG in South Africa, was elected to the external role by Unesco committees and organs on November 16.

Maluleke’s office audits almost a thousand public institutions, including government departments. Earlier in November, it laid bare how South Africa's municipalities have lost R5.19-billion through non-compliance and suspected fraud.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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