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While the GOOD Party has praised Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi's announcement of the creation of 19 permanent National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) posts to investigate Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases, it wants a "proper explanation" from government for the "deliberate" non-prosecution of the cases for more than twenty years.

GOOD secretary-general Brett Herron said while the increase in posts is good for equal accountability, it is important to know who decided to ignore the TRC recommendations on further investigations and prosecutions, and why.

"…because this knowledge is fundamental to the integrity of South Africa's political settlement of more than thirty years ago. The non-prosecution of these cases - together with the slow pace of social, spatial and economic transformation since the advent of democracy - feed a rising narrative that South Africa's political settlement was a stitch-up between the African National Congress (ANC) and National Party, and directly threaten the Constitutional principles of justice, equality and non-racialism," he pointed out.

Herron explained that last year former President Thabo Mbeki "vigorously denied" repeated allegations from former NPA head Vusi Pikoli, that Pikoli was instructed by his political head, then-Minister of Justice Bridget Mabandla, not to prosecute TRC-recommended cases.

Herron stated that over the past few years, since the 2017 re-opening of the inquest into the death in detention of Ahmed Timol in 1971, the NPA has enrolled a "trickle" of TRC cases.

However, he pointed that Kubayi is promising more - including re-examining the 1960 death of ANC President and Nobel Peace Laureate Chief Albert Luthuli.

Herron believes only the ANC can answer why it "lacked the appetite," at a time it when it held "unfettered political power" for thirty years, to reinvestigate the death of its former President.

"Its official opposition for most of that period, the Democratic Alliance, has had no interest in further prosecutions as most perpetrators would fall into its broad constituency," he said.

ActionSA has welcomed City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Speaker of Council Nobuhle Mthembu's call for an Extra-Ordinary Council, saying it expects to see the City Manager position filled in three months.

Following a High Court ruling that the appointment of former City Manager Floyd Brink was irregular, the court ordered him to vacate office. The city's COO Tshepo Makola was then appointed as acting City Manager, and he assumed the role in December.

ActionSA CoJ Caucus Chief Whip Zark Lebatlang said the party did not expect Makola to fill the role permanently.

"… we would like to see this position occupied in the space of three months," he said.

Lebatlang said the party will hold Makola to account to ensure that, in the intervening period, the city executes basic service delivery.

ActionSA said it is critical to appoint an accounting officer that will play a critical role in stabilising the City but also in ensuring that service delivery takes a centre stage.

"The City of Johannesburg needs an impartial City Manager who will be able to spearhead the City of Johannesburg through the current tribulations. We demand the prioritisation of the restoration of Bree Street, addressing water crisis and electricity supply. Residents of Johannesburg are yearning for a City Manager who will be able to account for every cent spent," Lebatlang said.

The party claimed that since it assumed leadership of the City's legislative arm, it has seen a rise in "transparency and sound decision-making."

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) announced on Thursday the resignation of its MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, from Parliament.

The party also received the voluntary resignation of Yazini Tetyana as MP.

"The voluntary requests to be released from deployment, which were sent to the Secretary General of the EFF consecutively and within days of each other, expressed gratitude to the EFF for the opportunity to serve the organization and the people of South Africa," it highlighted.

As it stands, Ndlozi and Tetyana remain members of the EFF.

Ndlozi has served in the National Assembly since 2014, while Tetyana served in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature and in Parliament.

The party said it has accepted the respective voluntary requests to be released from deployment of the two Fighters, who it said have "diligently" served the organisation in their respective deployments since the EFF has had representation in the legislative sphere.

"…they have both been exemplary in their deployments and acted as commendable Public Representatives" the EFF said.

In recent months, high-profile members, including Floyd Shivambu, Dali Mpofu, Mzwanele Manyi and Busisiwe Mkhwebane, have left the party.

In celebrating the African National Congress's (ANC's) 113th anniversary, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the party is determined to work to rebuild people's trust in the ANC.

The ANC is set to celebrate its anniversary on Saturday, in Khayelitsha, in the Western Cape, where Ramaphosa will present the annual January 8th Statement.

Party leaders kicked off the festivities this week, with a visit to Robben Island on Wednesday, which Ramaphosa said occupies a significant place in the ANC's history.

"Robben Island is a symbol of enslavement and rebellion. It is a site of both imprisonment and resistance. On this day, at this place, we pay tribute to the men and women who fought so courageously against colonialism and apartheid. We pay tribute to the visionaries who founded the ANC on this day in 1912, and we honour the men and women who swelled its ranks over more than a century.

"…by visiting Robben Island on these most important days in the life of our movement, we are reaffirming our determination to advance the struggle for the complete liberation of all South Africans from all forms of oppression. We are sending a message that no matter the challenges we confront, we will overcome them," he said.

He stated that the party will prevail, as it has done so before, and stressed is committed to renewal and rebuilding.

Ramaphosa said the ANC has learnt from the experience of those imprisoned on Robben Island that rebuilding a movement requires effective organisation and thorough political engagement.

"Rebuilding requires vibrant democratic practice, accountability and discipline," he highlighted.

The leaders and cadres who spent time imprisoned on the island understood the vital need for unity, trust and personal integrity, he added.

"They knew that they had to work together. As we work to rebuild the ANC, we are drawing on these lessons from Robben Island. We are drawing on a wealth of experience that stretches back over 113 years of struggle," he said.

Further, he urged the party to acknowledge its shortcomings and challenges, while recognising the strengths and capabilities that reside in the movement.

The ANC National Executive Committee will outline the party's priorities and tasks for the year ahead in the upcoming January 8 Statement.

"We will describe the actions that we must take throughout all structures of the movement to advance the struggle for a better life for all our people. The January 8th Statement will place the needs of South Africans at the centre of our programme for the year - to create jobs, to build a growing and inclusive economy, to fight poverty and to tackle crime and violence," Ramaphosa said.

He added that the Statement will outline the work the party needs to do to further advance the renewal and rebuilding of the movement.

AfriForum has welcomed a Pretoria High Court ruling that allows the publication of the 2024 matric results in newspapers, rejecting the urgent application by the Information Regulator (IR) seeking to block its release.

The court also ordered the IR to pay AfriForum's legal costs. The decision came after a hearing yesterday, where Judge Ronèl Tolmay ruled that the results should be published in the public interest.

The IR had argued that publishing the matric results in the media would infringe on the privacy rights of the students. However, Judge Tolmay sided with the argument that the publication of the results serves the broader public interest, affirming that they should be made available on public platforms and through printed media.

AfriForum, and several other organisations, had been added as interested parties in the case, which was brought against the Department of Basic Education (DBE). This legal battle follows a similar case in 2022, in which AfriForum and other parties successfully argued that the publication of matric results was necessary. In that case, the court issued an order to ensure that the results would be publicly available.

AfriForum Head of Cultural Affairs Alana Bailey expressed satisfaction with the court's decision.

"This ruling is a victory for matriculants, for whom the publication of their results is of great importance. It is also part of the larger conversation that is essential to gain more clarity about the balance between the right to privacy and the public interest," she said.

While the current ruling permits the immediate publication of the 2024 matric results, the broader issue of whether the results should be withheld or made public will be further examined in a later case scheduled for later this year. For now, the court's decision ensures that the results will be available to the public in time for their expected release next week.

Meanwhile, the IR said it was disappointed that the decision was not in its favour and that the ruling did not mean that the processing of personal information of the matriculants', by publishing their exam numbers and results, is lawful.

"If the DBE is to proceed with the publication of the results in the newspapers, they will still be guilty of non-compliance with the Regulator's orders. This is because the Regulator's orders are not suspended by the High Court's decision today, nor by any appeal. No appeal is currently before the Court. Until such time as an appeal against the orders of the Regulator is brought before Court, the Regulator will continue to expect compliance with its orders and will do what is provided for in the law to enforce its orders," it said.

Former African National Congress (ANC) President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday threatened legal action against the party if it doesn't reinstate his membership by January 31.

In a statement issued on behalf of the former President, the Jacob Zuma Foundation urged the ANC to prioritise "fairness, consistency, and adherence" and to ensure that party members are protected from "selective disciplinary actions" or "factional vendettas."

In a letter of demand sent to the ANC by Attorneys representing the Patron of the JG Zuma Foundation, it said Zuma's ANC membership was "unprocedural" in its termination late last year.

The letter highlighted irregularities that Zuma's lawyers believe an independent legal review would likely find invalid, pointing to the ANC's apparent failure or refusal to accede to the requirements to hold the disciplinary process and appeal hearing physically after having agreed to do so, and its failure to hold the process in public.

The letter also pointed to the ANC's failure to give reasons for the dismissal of the appeal.

"…the ANC has failed to furnish the reasons for the ANC's National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) ruling, only promising that the request would be forwarded to the Chairperson of the NDCA, Mr Johnny de Lange. To date no response has been received. This continues to frustrate our client's ability to protect his violated rights," the letter said.

It further notes "troubling pronouncements" and actions by the ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, who the lawyers said has reportedly engaged in acts of "intimidation, victimisation, and targeted insults" against Zuma's representative Tony Yengeni.

"Such conduct not only contravenes the ANC Constitution but also undermines the integrity of the organisation's internal processes. Despite these challenges, Comrade Yengeni, a disciplined member of the ANC, remains committed to representing President Zuma in accordance with the principles of fairness and justice," the letter read.

Zuma's lawyers demand that the ANC ensure that a "reasoned ruling" of the NCDA is furnished, and it wants the party to provide Zuma with the full record of the NDC/NDCA proceedings, including all outstanding documents and correspondence.

The lawyers also demanded the expulsion ruling is immediately reversed with immediate effect pending proper compliance with the ANC Constitution and the country's Constitution.

The Attorneys highlighted that this matter extends beyond individual grievances, reflecting deeper concerns about the ANC's current trajectory.

It said there is a growing perception that the organisation is being led by individuals "whose actions resemble those of askaris", undermining the movement's historic mission.

"The alarming trend of selling the organisation's core principles to the highest bidder has been vividly demonstrated by the so-called Government of National Unity coalition with the Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus. These developments vindicate the warnings expressed by President Zuma on 16 December 2023.

"This case is not simply about one individual, it is about safeguarding the rights of all ANC members and preserving the values that have sustained the organisation for over a century. We remain hopeful that justice and fairness will prevail," the letter said.

South Africa's rand recovered some losses on Thursday, a day after the Federal Reserve struck a hawkish tone on interest rate cuts in the coming year.

At 0826 GMT, the rand traded at 18.275 against the dollar, about 0.3% stronger than its previous close.

The US central bank cut interest rates on Wednesday, but Fed Chair Jerome Powell said further reductions in borrowing costs hinged on more progress in lowering high inflation, sending the dollar to a near two-year high.

Like most emerging market currencies, the rand took a hit, ending the day more than 1% lower.

On the stock market, the Top-40 index was down about 1.3%.

South Africa's benchmark 2030 government bond was weaker, with the yield up 11.5 basis points to 9.14%.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday assented to the National Nuclear Regulator Amendment Bill, which provides for nuclear safety oversight, ranging from the decontamination of defence facilities to airline pilot safety.

The Amendment Bill amends the National Nuclear Regulator Act of 1999 to align it with current international regulatory best practices as determined by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The Amendment Bill also inserts new definitions, amends certain definitions and removes obsolete definitions to align with international best practice

"This alignment is necessary because South Africa is one of the founding members of the IAEA and is a signatory to various international conventions governing nuclear safety, as promulgated by the IAEA. The law gives the National Nuclear Regulator additional functions and provides for the decontamination, decommissioning and closing of national defence force facilities, equipment, machinery and scrap for civilian use," the Presidency said in a statement.

The Bill also empowers the regulator to exercise regulatory oversight over occupational exposure of aircrew to cosmic radiation flying below 49 000 feet.

The Presidency pointed out that the law now empowers the regulator to exercise regulatory oversight to provide nuclear safety assurance that property of the South African National Defence Force designated for release for civilian use will not cause radiation harm.

It highlighted that the new law provides for the control and management of the affairs of the regulator, including the term of office the board and the establishment of board committees, and expands the scope of activities which cannot be undertaken without obtaining authorisation from the regulator.

The amended law, is said to also exclude the application of the Defence Act of 2002, which the Presidency said deals with permits for and inspection of naval vessels of a foreign State that are visiting South Africa, with a view to challenge foreign forces disclosing details of naval vessels to host countries.

The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape on Thursday called on Social Development Minister Nokuzola Tolashe to provide clarity on the reasons behind the precautionary suspension of South African Social Security Agency CEO Busisiwe Memela-Khambula.

The party also wants Tolashe to outline the steps being taken to ensure social grant payments are processed without delays or interruptions at the beginning of 2025.

DA Western Cape spokesperson on social development Wendy Kaizer-Philander highlighted that despite the announcement of Memela-Khambula's suspension last week, Tolashe has yet to provide any substantive reasons for this decision beyond vague references to an investigation and concerns raised by the Public Protector.

"While we acknowledge the importance of ensuring transparency and integrity within Sassa - an institution tasked with supporting millions of vulnerable South Africans - the lack of detailed communication from the Minister's office is deeply concerning. South Africans deserve to understand the specific allegations or circumstances that have warranted this action, especially given the ongoing crisis of service delivery within Sassa," said Kaizer-Philander.

She pointed out that it is critical to emphasise that this decision affects not only the CEO but also the beneficiaries who rely on Sassa for their survival.

The suspension, without a clear explanation, raises further questions about governance and accountability within the agency and the broader Department of Social Development, she added.

Kaizer-Philander said her party has long advocated for "transparency and accountability" at Sassa.

"...this is why we welcomed the suspension as an opportunity to address longstanding mismanagement and operational failures. However, accountability cannot be achieved in an environment of secrecy and vague statements. If the suspension is truly in the interests of 'steering Sassa in the right direction', as claimed by the Minister, the reasons behind it must be disclosed without delay," she noted.

The DA said it demands assurance that sufficient planning and contingency measures are in place to guarantee the smooth operation of Sassa's payment systems, avoiding any unnecessary disruptions.

"South Africans cannot afford further uncertainty and failures in service delivery. The Minister should take the nation into her confidence to restore trust and credibility in Sassa's leadership and operations," said Kaizer-Philander.

Distressed JSE-listed sugar producer Tongaat Hulett has announced that it will sell all its assets and operating businesses in South Africa to Vision Sugar South Africa.

The purchase price for Tongaat Hulett's South African assets will be the fair market value determined by an appointed independent valuer, whose decision, absent any manifest error, shall be final and binding on the parties, plus an amount equal to the assumed liabilities, the company said in a statement.

Vision Sugar South Africa is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vision Investments. It will buy Tongaat Hulett's South African assets and operations by way of a set off of the purchase consideration against a portion of the lender group claims.

The transaction is subject to the fulfilment of a number of suspensive conditions.

Further, the sale agreements relating to the non-South African assets, namely the shares and claims held in foreign entities, are still in process and will be signed as soon as the parties are ready to do so.

The successful execution of the adopted business rescue plan presents a reasonable prospect of achieving a positive outcome that aligns with the rights and interests of stakeholders and affected persons. The rationale for the transaction supports the prospects of the continued viability of Tongaat's operational businesses, the company said.

Shareholder approval for an equity subscription was not obtained, and the business rescue practitioners (BRPs) have continued to implement the adopted plan, with the emphasis on switching to the alternative transactions as outlined in the adopted plan, namely involving the sale of all Tongaat Hulett's assets and operating businesses.

Despite shareholders not having supported the equity subscription in August, the BRPs are legally bound and obligated to proceed with the implementation of the alternative transactions as outlined in the adopted plan.

The BRPs remain of the view that there is a reasonable prospect of a successful business rescue. The end result contemplated in the South African assets transaction will be that Vision Sugar acquires from Tongaat Hulett all of its South African assets.