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

Making headlines: George building collapse death toll rises to 12; Zuma in court seeking right to run in South Africa's pivotal election; And, condolences for Justice Yvonne Mokgoro

 

George building collapse death toll rises to 12

The George municipality has confirmed that three more bodies have been retrieved from the site of a collapsed building, taking the death toll to 12.

Eighty-one people were on-site at the time of the building's collapse on Monday afternoon. By Friday, 41 people were still unaccounted for.

Thirteen people remain in hospital.

Search and rescue effort are continuing.

 

 

Zuma in court seeking right to run in South Africa's pivotal election

South Africa's top court began hearing legal arguments today on whether former president Jacob Zuma can run for parliament, a case whose outcome will affect a wide open national election on May 29 and could cause security problems if he loses.

Zuma who was forced to quit as president in 2018 and was sentenced to jail in 2021, has fallen out with the ruling African National Congress and has been campaigning for a new party, uMkhonto we Sizwe.

His presence on MK's list of candidates is crucial to the party's appeal.

The case stems from a decision in March by South Africa's electoral commission to disqualify Zuma on the basis that the constitution prohibits anyone given a prison sentence of 12 months or longer from holding a parliamentary seat.

In 2021, Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in jail for failing to appear at a corruption inquiry.

In April, a court overturned the disqualification, saying the relevant section of the constitution applied only to people who had had a chance to appeal against their sentences, which had not been Zuma's case.

The electoral commission challenged that decision in the Constitutional Court, which began hearing the case today with Zuma sitting in the courtroom.

 

 

And, condolences for Justice Yvonne Mokgoro

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed sadness at the passing of retired Constitutional Court Justice and Member of the Order of the Baobab Yvonne Mokgoro.

Mokgoro passed away on Thursday at the age of 73, following an extended period of illness arising from a vehicle accident.

Mokgoro was a judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa from its inception in 1994 until the end of her 15-year term in 2009.

Democratic Alliance Shadow Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development advocate Glynnis Breytenbach said Mokgoro's passing was a profound loss for South Africa, as she left behind a legacy of integrity, wisdom and immense contributions to the nation's legal landscape.

The Inkatha Freedom Party and the African National Congress also joined the nation in mourning the loss of Mokgoro.

The Public Investment Corporation said Mokgoro will be remembered for her sterling work in leading an Advisory Panel that monitored the PIC’s implementation of the Mpati Commission findings and recommendations.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA