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By Chulumanco Mahamba

Digital Night Supervisor


Daily News update: Meyiwa confessions ruling | ANC candidates list | Percy Tau was ‘mentally broken’

Here's your morning news update: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories.


News today includes the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria will deliver its ruling on the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial-within-a-trial after hearing closing arguments from the state and defence on Monday.

Meanwhile, ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has said former president Thabo Mbeki is a man of dignity and has not endorsed tainted party members to be on the ANC’s candidates list for public office.

Furthermore, Hugo Broos has said he left Percy Tau out of the Bafana Bafana squad for friendlies against Andorra and Algeria later this month, to protect the Al Ahly attacker from more criticism.

News Today: 12 March 2024

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Judge to make ruling on confessions in Senzo Meyiwa murder trial on Thursday

The murder case against five men accused of killing former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa is set to resume on Thursday.

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria will deliver its ruling on the trial-within-a-trial after hearing closing arguments from the state and defence on Monday.

Daily news update 12 March 2024
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng during the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial at Pretoria High Court on 17 July. Picture: Gallo Images/Phill Magakoe

Since October 2023, the court has heard evidence in a trial-within-a-trial to determine the admissibility of confession statements that Bongani Ntanzi and his co-accused, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya had allegedly made into the main trial.

The state has claimed Ntanzi made a confession about his alleged involvement in Meyiwa’s murder at the station before Colonel Moholo Solomon Raphadu at the Moroka Police Station in Soweto on 19 June 2020.

CONTINUE READING: Judge to make ruling on confessions in Senzo Meyiwa murder trial on Thursday


IEC tracks ‘revolting’ candidates leak to staff work station, takes ‘corrective action’

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said Monday it has tracked the source of the leak that saw African National Congress (ANC) and Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party candidate lists shared widely on social media to a work station at its offices.

The commission’s CEO, Sy Mamabolo, said in a media briefing that these were the only two parties affected, and the official whose credentials were found to be used in the leak—though information was later deleted at the work station—has been asked to provide reasons why action should not be taken against them.

Daily news update 12 March 2024
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) CEO Sy Mamabolo at Election House on 25 January 2024 in Centurion. Picture: Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu

However, the investigation has not yet been concluded and more officials may be responsible for the leak, he said. A forensic analysis of the work station is also underway.

CONTINUE READING: WATCH: IEC tracks ‘revolting’ candidates leak to staff work station, takes ‘corrective action’


ANC candidates list: Mbeki did not endorse wrongdoing, says Mbalula

ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has said former president Thabo Mbeki is a man of dignity and has not endorsed tainted party members to be on the ANC’s candidates list for public office.

Mbalula was speaking at a press conference on Monday morning in Johannesburg.

Daily news update 12 March 2024
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula during a press conference at Luthuli House in Johannesburg. Picture: Neil McCartney / The Citizen

The ANC was under fire over the inclusion of some ANC leaders who appeared on the list despite facing corruption allegations or being implicated in the State Capture Commission Report.

CONTINUE READING: ANC candidates list: Mbeki did not endorse wrongdoing, says Mbalula


Joslin Smith: Husband of alleged sangoma claims cops ‘tortured’ her in front of kids

Many shock twists and turns have surfaced in the gripping case of the disappearance of Joslin Smith since the six-year-old girl went missing three weeks ago from her Saldanha home in Middelpos informal settlement.

These include the arrest and appearance of alleged sangoma Phumza Sigaqa alongside Joslin’s mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, her boyfriend Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 7 March.

Daily news update 12 March 2024
From left: Phumza Sigaqa, an alleged sangoma, leaves the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court where she appeared alongside Joslin Smith’s mother, Raquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, pictured bottom right, on Thursday, 7 March. Photos via Twitter @SAPoliceService , Facebook/ Mayor Andre Truter and Gallo Images/ Brenton Geach

The four accused were charged with human trafficking and kidnapping. This after Appollis and Van Rhyn allegedly confessed during a 36-hour-long interrogation session that they sold Joslin for R20 000 for muti.

CONTINUE READING: Joslin Smith: Husband of alleged sangoma claims cops ‘tortured’ her in front of kids


Percy Tau was ‘mentally broken’ – Broos

Hugo Broos has said he left Percy Tau out of the Bafana Bafana squad for friendlies against Andorra and Algeria later this month, to protect the Al Ahly attacker from more criticism.

The Bafana head coach felt that Tau was affected by all of the criticism he received at the Africa Cup of Nations. Tau missed a penalty in the opening match against Mali and while he scored a spot kick against Namibia in Bafana’s next match, several other missed chances in the tournament saw the ‘Lion of Judah’ bear the brunt of plenty of social media attacks.

Daily news update 12 March 2024
Bafana Bafana’s Percy Tau was ‘mentally broken’ after the Africa Cup of Nations, according to his head coach Hugo Broos. Picture: Weam Mostafa/BackpagePix

In a dramatic new development in the tragic case of the six-year-old, her mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith and her boyfriend Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis have been charged with human trafficking and kidnapping.

CONTINUE READING: Percy Tau was ‘mentally broken’ – Broos


In other news today:


Yesterday’s News recap

READ HERE: IEC investigates leak, IFP manifesto launched, ANCYL President takes swipe at Jacob Zuma

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