
Top 10 stories of the day: Citizenship Act clause 'unlawful'
Here's your daily news update for Tuesday, 6 May 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories.
News today includes The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) has ruled that a section of the Citizenship Act is unlawful as it violates the rights of people who lost their South African citizenship after becoming citizens of another country.
Meanwhile, in the first court judgement about the National Health Insurance (NHI), the North Gauteng High Court ruled that President Cyril Ramaphosa must explain how he decided to sign the NHI Bill into law in May last year.
Furthermore, South Africa's largest chicken producer, Astral, says it will likely report poor results for the six months ending 31 March 2025, due to lower chicken prices and higher costs hurting its business and profits.
Weather tomorrow: 7 May 2025
Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over the northern part of Dr. Beyers Naude Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape, otherwise you can expect fine and warm weather across the country. Full weather forecast here.
Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way.
ConCourt strikes down Citizenship Act clause, restores citizenship for affected South Africans
The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) has ruled that a section of the Citizenship Act is unlawful as it violates the rights of people who lost their South African citizenship after becoming citizens of another country.
On Tuesday, the ConCourt delivered its judgment regarding an application brought by the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Picture: iStock
The DA challenged Section 6(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act, which states that South Africans automatically forfeit their citizenship if they voluntarily and formally acquire citizenship of another country.
CONTINUE READING: ConCourt strikes down Citizenship Act clause, restores citizenship for affected South Africans
WATCH: Mbenenge emojis showed 'agreement and warmness' – expert
The hug emoji from Andiswa Mengo showed 'agreement' and 'warmness' to a message that was sent by Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge.
This was revealed by Forensic and legal linguist, Dr Zakeera Docrat on Tuesday during the Judicial Conduct Tribunal into allegations of sexual harassment against Mbenenge
Dr Zakeera Docrat testifying at the tribunal. Picture: X-@OCJ_RSA
The hearing focused on the interpretation of emojis and what they could've meant in the context of the conversation between the duo.
CONTINUE READING: WATCH: Mbenenge emojis showed 'agreement and warmness' – expert
Court rules president must explain how he decided to sign NHI Bill into law
In the first court judgement about the National Health Insurance (NHI), the North Gauteng High Court ruled that President Cyril Ramaphosa must explain how he decided to sign the NHI Bill into law in May last year.
The Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF), which brought the application, says the ruling confirms that the president's decision to assent to and sign the NHI Bill into law is subject to review in the High Court.
Picture: iStock
'In addition, the judgement obligates the president to provide his full record of proceedings that led to his decision to sign the NHI Bill into law in line with Rule 53 of the Uniform Rules of the Court. The High Court directed President Ramaphosa to furnish this record within ten calendar days of today's ruling.'
CONTINUE READING: Court rules president must explain how he decided to sign NHI Bill into law
Culpable homicide case opened against Johannesburg official over Usindiso fire
A criminal charge has been laid against the CEO of the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC), Helen Botes.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) announced a case of culpable homicide had been opened against the CEO at Johannesburg Central Police Station on Tuesday.
The Usindiso building in Johannesburg. Picture: Michel Bega / The Citizen
The information was revealed while the party was delivering their State of the City Address (Soca) to highlight the issues plaguing Johannesburg — a city that will host the G20 Summit in five months.
CONTINUE READING: Culpable homicide case opened against Johannesburg official over Usindiso fire
Here's why chicken prices might increase soon
South Africa's largest chicken producer, Astral, says it will likely report poor results for the six months ending 31 March 2025, due to lower chicken prices and higher costs hurting its business and profits.
Astral's troubles started in 2023, when the country was faced with load shedding and the bird flu outbreak. However, this changed in 2024, as the company recovered and recorded significant profit.
Picture: iStock
If the chicken producer's predictions come true, consumers might be subjected to higher chicken prices to recoup the loss.
CONTINUE READING: Here's why chicken prices might increase soon
Here are five more stories of the day:
Yesterday's News recap
READ HERE: Heads to roll in MP laptop saga | EC mom murder charges dropped | DA lauds US intervention in DRC
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
The logic behind Dawie Roodt's conclusion that 'Most South African universities must be closed'
History has no blank pages. Lest we forget the teaching of Hendrik Verwoerd that: 'There is no place for [the Bantu] in the European community above the level of certain forms of Labour…. What is the use of teaching the Bantu child mathematics when it cannot use it in practice'. Exactly 31 years into a democracy, Roodt still dreams of an apartheid where whites saw themselves as the chosen (theologically, racially, politically, economically) nation of South Africa, 'De la Rey, De la Rey, sal jy die Boere kom lei'. A declaration by Roodt that 'most South African universities must be closed' and that only 10% should be allowed at universities is traced in the Afrikaner ideology, apartheid and a view 'net vir die blankes', an education for a few. Apartheid was a policy of segregation and political, social, and economic against black South Africans. The current statistic suggests that there are around 7% whites in the country, and this is the basis of Roodt's argument. In apartheid South Africa, schooling was compulsory for whites but not for Africans. Roodt has exceptions a 3% perhaps for future expansion of the white race or he wants to have exceptions for 'clever blacks' or house negros or Uncle Toms or Tengo Jabavu(s) who might be useful for the system for a whiteness project. Before we rush to conclude and argue that at least the 1953 Bantu Education Act created an opportunity for blacks to study or to even suggest that Verwoerd did not imply exclusion of black in all education, it is important to recall that the Act was created for black South Africans and to prepare them for lives as labouring class. Roodt base his argument on skills relevancy and on performance, and of course, the preceding sentence exposes his background and that his logic is rooted in the Bantu Act.


The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
'Look at Cape Town!': Helen Zille grilled over Joburg mayor bid
South Africans have mixed views over former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille's potential bid to become Joburg's next mayor next year. While the outspoken political leader – dubbed 'Godzille,' – won the World Mayor of the Year in 2008 for governing the city of Cape Town, many believe the two cities are worlds apart in comparison. Dada Morero is the current mayor of Johannesburg, the latest in a long list of short-lived stints by various candidates. One of them is the DA's Mpho Phalatse. Last week, Helen Zille confirmed that she was contemplating the monumental task of running for mayor of Johannesburg. The 74-year-old told the media: 'I have been approached to put my hat in the ring for mayor. I am still considering it and consulting my family.' 'GodZille' – who has been critical of the state of Joburg and its local government – revealed that she would have to make the move alone, as her family is settled in Cape Town. Helen Zille will have until 15 June to make her formal application. On social media, South Africans have been on the fence about Helen Zille possibly being Joburg's next mayor. Some, like author Khaya Dlanga, have urged the country to give her a chance to 'turn things around'. He posted: 'Let me tell you now, if she does, she will win. And not by accident. Like it or not, she has a proven record of turning a city around. Just look at Cape Town. 'You can debate her politics all you want, but she gets things done. Joburg, as it stands, is crying out for that kind of leadership. They want working traffic lights, clean streets, functioning municipalities, not endless excuses. Right now, everyone is complaining about what the ANC has done to the city. Zille offers a real, visible alternative.' However, others argued with Khaya that the DA had failed to govern Johannesburg and even Tshwane, whose mayor, Cilliers Brink, was ousted last year. X user @KobeMalebo posted: 'The DA has actually run all the key metros in Gauteng before and botched it!'. @luphumlongcayis replied: 'The DA or Zille is not some governance miracle. Just look at the City of Tshwane. Under DA leadership, the city fell into chaos: coalition collapse, unpaid workers, budget paralysis, and service delivery failure, especially in black communities and black working-class areas'. Some even pointed to Cape Town's vast divide between the rich and poor, and how the DA under Helen Zille failed to adequately address it. @papizwane2 shared: 'It's so easy to service wealthy people/areas. The true judge of service delivery is what you do for POOR people. So with that being said, how are Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, and the Cape Flats doing? Have their living standards turned around and doing better?' Another, @NkoTengimfene replied: 'The Cape Town you speak of is not the Cape Metro of the poor and working class' And @NolwAzi_Tusini added: 'What metrics are you using to judge Zille's 'success' in Cape Town when that city is so blatantly anti-poor? While many are backing Helen Zille to'save' Mzansi's financial hub, it's clear many South Africans – who reside in both Joburg and Cape Town – believe that the latter is not the benchmark for success. The public complaints around the DA-governed city and tourist hotspot are centred around the following issues… The widening gap between the wealthy and the poor. Poor service delivery in disadvantaged communities. Influx of illegal immigrants. Prevalence of crime and gang violence in townships. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.


Eyewitness News
2 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Presiding Judge in Meyiwa trial willing to recuse himself if lawyers believe he's biased
PRETORIA - The presiding judge in the Senzo Meyiwa trial has invited lawyers in the matter to apply for his recusal if they believe he is unfit to run the trial Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng made an extensive apology for the race-based comments he made in court last week. As he rebuked a lawyer for asking for time off to run the comrades marathon, Mokgotlheng made comments about black lawyers and South Africa being run by blacks. The judge has since apologised for the comments. ALSO READ: If Judge Mokgoatlheng recuses himself from the trial, the matter would have to start from scratch for a third time, and a third judge would be appointed to preside. On Monday, Judge Mokgoatlheng, who has come under fire for his race-based comments, apologised and also extended an invitation to the lawyers before him. 'If you believe that I, as a judge, am so useless, dumb, and you think you can't get a fair trial from me, please tell me, I will recuse myself. I don't want to impose myself on people who doubt my integrity, honour and dignity.' Judge Mokgoatlheng, who has been accused of being racist, gave a detailed apology for his comments and went to great lengths to give reasons why he is not. 'If I trampled on anybody's toes because of my racism, despite being in adherence to the Freedom Charter of 1955, I was there in Kliptown with my father, I wish to apologise for being a racist. I will try and mend my ways,but I can tell you, it's not a conscious thing about me to be a racist.' He extended his apology to all South Africans, all judges, and in particular, Chief Justice Mandisa Maya.