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By Vhahangwele Nemakonde

Digital Deputy News Editor


Daily news update: Spotlight on Land expropriation and police brutality, ANC goes to Electoral Court

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.


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ANC to approach Electoral Court to force IEC to reopen candidate registration

ANC flag
Picture: Michel Bega

The ANC plans to approach the Electoral Court on Friday as it wants to force the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to open candidate registration for one extra day.

This was announced on Thursday by the party’s deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte.

“We will be approaching the Electoral Court to reopen the process for at least one day for corrections and additions to be made,” said Duarte.

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has threatened legal action should the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) give the African National Congress (ANC) another chance to register its candidates.

This after the party’s deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte announced on Thursday that the ruling party will approach the Electoral Court on Friday in an attempt to get the IEC to open candidate registration for one more day.

“We will be approaching the Electoral Court to reopen the process for at least one day for corrections and additions to be made,” said Duarte.

She said some of the challenges experienced on Monday were beyond the ANC’s control.

More than 3,000 patients still awating surgery after Charlotte Maxeke hospital fire

Fire-ravaged Charlotte Maxeke Hospital plundered after computers, TV, fridge stolen
After the fire, which broke out on 16 April in the special dispensary stores of the hospital, no one was permitted inside. Picture: Nigel Sibanda/The Citizen

Gauteng health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi this week confirmed to the Democratic Alliance’s (DA’s) Jack Bloom that more than 3,000 Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital patients are still awaiting surgery after the fire.

A fire ravaged the hospital on 16 April and glaring safety gaps at the hospital have been highlighted since in an exchange with Mokgethi, which The Citizen has seen. 

At the time, Bloom said the blame game should start with hospital CEO Gladys Bogoshi.

‘Excessive force’: SA’s police brutality under the spotlight

saps police excessive force new study
A new report raises many concerns about Saps’ use of lethal force. Picture: GroundUP/Ashraf Hendricks

People killed while fleeing, while brandishing knives or when officers fire “warning” shots – these are some of the circumstances of killings by police examined in a new study on the use of lethal force by the South African Police Service (Saps).

International policing expert Ignacio Cano, who authored the study for the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF), has studied some of the world’s most violent police forces.

He helped develop a list of indicators for identifying the abuse of force by police.

Land expropriation: Parliamentary committee might ask for another extension

Land expropriation
MPs during the debate on land expropriation without compensation at the National Assembly on December 04, 2018 in Cape Town. Picture: Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Jaco Marais

The ad hoc committee amending section 25 of the Constitution, to allow for expropriation of land without compensation, is currently deliberating on whether to request another extension or not.

The National Assembly’s programme committee on Thursday gave an update on the progress of the draft bill.

‘What we can report on is that the committee is having deliberations today and tomorrow. They started on the 24th [of August], but in the previous meeting, it was reflected that there might be a possibility of requesting an extension. So far we have not yet reached that,” Parliament unit manager Mongana Tau told MPs.

OFFICIAL: Percy Tau joins Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly

Al Ahly.- Percy Tau
Percy Tau has been unveiled as an Al Ahly player. Picture: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix.

Egyptian giants Al Ahly on Thursday evening confirmed the signing of Bafana Bafana attacking star Percy Tau from English Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion.

“Ladies and gentlemen please welcome … the Lion of Judah,” read a tweet from Ahly, using Tau’s nickname, as the 27 year-old reunites with his former head coach at Mamelodi Sundowns, Pitso Mosimane.

Brighton also reported the news on their official website on Thursday.