40 Richards Bay High School pupils were hospitalized yesterday after a suspected gas leak at the Foskor plant. The plant is a producer of phosphates and phosphoric acid. The were also reports that other residents were also rushed to hospital after experiencing vomiting, nausea and breathing difficulties reportedly due to the unknown gas leak. KwaZulu Natal Provincial Education Spokesperson, Muzi Mahlambi.

The Expert Panel looking into the July unrest says Cabinet must be held accountable for the violence which claimed over 300 lives. The panel, appointed in August last year, also found that the country's intelligence services failed to intercept and prevent the planned and orchestrated riots. The report released by President Cyril Ramaphosa says Cabinet must take responsibility for failing to contain violence which saw the destruction of public property, the killing of over 300 people, and destruction of businesses in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and some parts of Mpumalanga. Program manager at the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum, Themba Masuku.

Black First Land First, BLF is expected to hand over an affidavit to the Hillbrow Police Station in Johannesburg, which the party says proves that President Cyril Ramaphosa should be charged criminally for corruption. The party says Ramaphosa is compromised as he was allegedly involved in criminality for contravening Sections 34 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act of 2004. This stems from leaked audio which purports to be of Ramaphosa admitting to using state funds for the African National Congress' operations. Here is BLF president, Andile Mngxitama

Time to take a look at the current top African economic stories with Victor Kgomoesoana, author of "Africa Is Open For Business" and "Africa Bounces Back"...

The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) says the Judicial Service Commission is attempting to misuse the constitutional power in the process of appointing a Chief Justice. The JSC has recommended that President Cyril Ramaphosa should appoint the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal Mandisa Maya to be the next Chief Justice. The other three candidates who were interviewed were Acting Chief Justice  Raymond Zondo, Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, and Judge President of the Gauteng High Court Division, Dunstan Mlambo. Meanwhile, the Helen Suzman Foundation has raised objections to the manner in which the process of interviewing the four judges was conducted. For further details, here is legal councillor at the Helen Suzman Foundation, Anton Van Dalsen

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says schools are ready for learners to return to the classroom full-time, from today. She says the scrapping of the rotational timetable, which was implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic, had already been gazetted. The move comes after a cabinet decision at the end of last month, to end rotational learning with immediate effect and to remove social distancing measures. Meanwhile, the Educators Union of South Africa has called for infrastructure challenges in schools to be given urgent attention. For more on this here is EUSA spokesperson, Kabelo Mahlobongwane

Many areas have been flooded following heavy rains in Gauteng at the weekend. Meanwhile, authorities say over one-hundred people have been left homeless following heavy rains in KwaZulu-Natal. The provincial department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta says disaster management teams are continuing with assessments that will provide the extent of the damage in various municipalities. For a quick update, here is the COGTA department's spokesperson Senzo Mzila

Four North West police officers have been granted bail of R500 each by the Coligny Magistrate's Court in the province. They allegedly colluded with petrol attendants between January and December 2020 using fuel cards of police vehicles to pay for fuel that was never poured into these vehicles. For the latest, here is North West Police Spokesperson, Lieutenant colonel Amanda Funani

Chief Justice nominee Dunstan Mlambo has denied allegations of sexual harassment against him. He describes it as a poisonous rumour. Mlambo faced these questions during his interview by the Judicial Service Commission for the top position in the constitutional court. The Judge President of the Gauteng High Court Division also pleaded with the JSC to warn a candidate ahead of the interview -  when there are serious allegations against the person. For a look at what has transpired all week, here is Mbekezeli Benjamin researcher and advocacy officer for the organisation Judges Matter

Time to take a look at the current top African economic stories, here is Victor Kgomoesoana, author of  "Africa Is Open For Business" and "Africa Bounces Back"