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Daily news update: EFF’s court victory, Golden Arrow buses petrol bombed and Ingonyama Trust
Here’s your morning news update: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way.
EFF members sing Dubula Ibhunu outside the Johannesburg High Court after hearing the verdict in the case Afriforum brought against the EFF in connection with that song, 25 August 2022. Picture: Neil McCartney / The Citizen
Here’s your morning news update: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way.
Daily news update – 26 August
EFF emerges victorious in AfriForum’s ‘Shoot the Boer’ case
The Equality Court ruled in favour of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema and MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi in the “Shoot the Boer” case.
AfriForum’s application has since been dismissed with costs after the court ruled that the song did not constitute hate speech.
Delivering the ruling on Thursday, Judge Edwin Molahlehi said that AfriForum failed to demonstrate that the EFF contravened the provisions if the Equality Act by singing the struggle song Dubul’ibhunu.
“They have also failed to show that the merits in this song could reasonably be construed to demonstrate a clear intention to harm or incite harm and propagate hatred,” he said.
Public Order Police deployed at Nyanga after four Golden Arrow buses are petrol bombed
Public Order Police have been deployed to Nyanga in Cape Town to restore calm after several busses and vehicles were set alight on Thursday morning, by unidentified suspects.
Four Golden Arrow buses and one truck from the City of Cape Town were set alight, according to the metro’s Traffic Services Department.
Golden Arrow Bus Services spokesperson Bronwen Dyke-Beyer confirmed that four of their buses were petrol bombed.
Dyke-Beyer said passengers had to flee for their lives as petrol bombs were hurled at the vehicles.
Independent panel will be given a month to investigate Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala saga
Parliament has confirmed that the panel set up to investigate President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm robbery will be given a month to complete its work.
National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula revealed this during the Programme Committee meeting on Thursday.
Earlier this month, the speaker accepted a request by the African Transformation Movement (ATM) for a Section 89 inquiry to be established against Ramaphosa.
Kodwa denies State Security Agency played role in burglary at Ramaphosa’s game farm
Deputy State Security Minister Zizi Kodwa has denied that the State Security Agency (SSA) had any involvement in the burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo.
Kodwa has also rejected claims that state security resources were used to cover up the theft of millions of US dollars in cash that were allegedly hidden at Ramaphosa’s farm.
“The State Security Agency categorically states that it had no involvement with the Phala Phala [matter] before and after the alleged criminal acts that took place in February 2020. Further to that, no state resources were utilised by the SSA to conceal the February 2020 alleged theft at the farm in Limpopo.”
SCA ruling puts Ingonyama Trust at risk of losing control of over 3 million hectares of land
The Ingonyama Trust is at risk of losing control over about three million hectares of KwaZulu-Natal rural land after a Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling.
In June last year, the Pietermaritzburg high court ruled that the Ingonyama Trust’s practice of imposing rent on households living on rural land controlled by the entity was unlawful.
The trust, whose sole trustee is now Zulu monarch, King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, then lodged an application for leave to appeal the Pietermaritzburg high court’s ruling.
However, the SCA ruled that the trust’s application has “no prospect of success”.
WATCH: Soweto no go as protesting residents block roads
Soweto residents embarked on a protest, blocking several roads in Orlando East with rocks and burning tyres, preventing motorists from accessing various intersections.
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla urged motorists to take extreme caution and avoid the Soweto area as vehicles were also being stoned.
“We did receive reports that Chris Hani Road in Power Park, Soweto, is closed off between Dynamo and Nicolas Street, and this is due to protest action.”
WATCH: Kobe Bryant’s widow awarded $16 million over crash photos
A federal jury has found that Los Angeles County must pay the late US basketball star Kobe Bryant’s widow $16 million in damages.
The lawsuit dealt with leaked photos of the NBA star’s body at the site of the 2020 helicopter crash that killed him.
The co-plaintiff in the case, Christopher Chester will also be paid $1.5 million.
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