For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: Ramaphosa calls for review of housing laws and policies following Joburg fire, huge fuel price hikes confirmed for Wednesday and, Zimbabwe President sworn in for second term after disputed vote

Ramaphosa calls for review of housing laws and policies following Joburg fire

As South Africans come to terms with the deaths in the wake of the devastating apartment fire in Marshalltown last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a review of laws and policies to address the housing development challenges in Johannesburg’s central business district.

The fire claimed the lives of more than 70 people, some of whom were children and many of whom were undocumented migrants.

Ramaphosa expressed his dismay at the calamity brought on by the tragedy by questioning the rationale behind having nearly 200 people occupying a building that was not built for housing and which had no services, thereby rendering it unsafe.

He has also alluded to the notion that laws and regulations designed to protect tenants from arbitrary eviction have been used by unscrupulous individuals and criminal landlords to prey on poor and vulnerable people.

Huge fuel price hikes confirmed for Wednesday

On Wednesday, the petrol price for both 93 and 95 unleaded will be hiked by R1.71 a litre.

The wholesale price of diesel will be increased by R2.84 a litre.

According to the Automobile Association, this is a record price increase.  

Illuminating paraffin prices will be hiked by R2.78 a litre.

South African fuel prices are largely determined by international oil costs and the rand exchange rate, as oil is priced in dollars.

Zimbabwe President sworn in for second term after disputed vote

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in for a second and final term after being declared the winner of last month’s elections despite international observers claiming that the elections were deeply flawed.

The opposition leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change, Nelson Chamisa rejected Mnangagwa’s election as a sham.

Mnangagwa, who turns 81 next week, took the oath of office at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, after being sworn in by Chief Justice Luke Malaba.

The presidents of Mozambique, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo were among those who attended the ceremony, while Nigeria sent its deputy president.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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