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Russia Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Zambia wins case to bury former president
South Africa's High Court has ordered the release of former Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu's body for repatriation to Zambia for a state funeral. 'The court in this case concluded that the government of Zambia is entitled to proceed with the state funeral for the late president of Zambia,' Deputy Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa, Aubrey Ledwaba, delivered the judgment on Friday afternoon. 'The order of the court reads as follows … it is ordered that the applicant (government of Zambia) is entitled to repatriate the body of the late president, Edgar Lungu, for a state funeral and burial thereafter in Embassy Park, in Lusaka, Republic of Zambia.' The family members were ordered to surrender the body of the former president to representatives of the Zambian government to enable repatriation. A month ago, IOL reported that the government of the Republic of Zambia said it would abide by the ruling of South African courts in the tense standoff over the burial of the mortal remains of the country's former president. One of Africa's deepest episodes of political rivalry and animosity played out before South African courts, with Lungu's family saying one of the former president's dying wishes was that his successor and political nemesis, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, should not go anywhere near his body. However, state funeral arrangements made in Zambia, in anticipation of receiving the former president's mortal remains in Lilongwe, had Hichilema at the center, as the commander-in-chief of the Zambian Defence Forces. The Zambian government had planned State funeral arrangements in Zambia, in anticipation of receiving the former president's mortal remains in Lilongwe, with Hichilema at the center of the ceremony. Last month, IOL reported that the High Court in Pretoria had unexpectedly halted plans by the family to bury the former president in South Africa. The court ruling was delivered just moments before a private ceremony was set to commence in Gauteng. The Pretoria court's decision marked another development in the ongoing heated dispute between Lungu's family and the Zambian government over the former head of state's final resting place. Lungu, who led Zambia from 2015 to 2021, died on 5 June in South Africa, where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness. He was published by IOL
The South African
08-08-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Pretoria High Court orders former President Edgar Lungu's burial in Zambia
On 8 August 2025, the Pretoria High Court ordered the repatriation of Edgar Lungu's remains to Embassy Park, Lusaka, the official site for Zambian heads of state. Gauteng Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba delivered the judgement, siding with the Zambian government. In June 2025, doctors treated Edgar Lungu in Pretoria for an undisclosed illness when he died; he had previously undergone treatment for achalasia. Lungu's family opposed repatriation, citing his alleged wish for a private burial in South Africa. Esther Lungu, his widow, stated in court that he wanted President Hichilema excluded from the funeral. The family's lawyer, Makebi Zulu, argued that the government's claims were hearsay and lacked evidence. The court dismissed these arguments, citing national interest and protocol. Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha argued that the burial of former presidents is a state matter. He referenced the precedent set by President Kenneth Kaunda's burial at Embassy Park. In addition, the government sought four orders, including repatriation and exclusion of family control over burial arrangements. The recent court ruling only grants the Zambian government the right to a state funeral and burial in Lusaka. Furthermore, the ruling ends a two-month dispute that drew regional attention and political debate. Government sources confirmed preparations are underway, though no burial date has been announced. The ruling has sparked mixed reactions, with some praising national unity and others criticising political interference. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Eyewitness News
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Court orders Edgar Lungu's remains be repatriated back to Zambia
JOHANNESBURG - The Pretoria High Court has ordered that the remains of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu be repatriated back to Zambia to be buried in a state funeral. Gauteng Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba handed down the judgment on Friday morning, ruling in the government's favour. Lungu died in Johannesburg in June while receiving medical treatment. The court has ruled that the former president be buried at Lusaka's Embassy Park, where Zambian heads of state are traditionally laid to rest.
The Citizen
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
DA's ‘poor' appeal on cadre deployment dismissed as ANC welcomes ruling
The ANC has accused the DA of abusing the courts to score 'cheap political points'. Entrance of the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. Picture: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius The Democratic Alliance (DA) has faced another setback in its efforts to have cadre deployment declared unconstitutional. On Wednesday, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria dismissed the DA's application for leave to appeal a previous ruling that favoured the African National Congress (ANC). The DA had lodged the appeal in February last year after the court ruled that political influence on government decisions was not the same as unconstitutional interference. The court held that it is not unlawful for a political party to shape government policy or influence senior appointments in the public sector, as long as the public service isn't misused for party politics. Court dismisses DA's appeal on cadre deployment Delivering the latest ruling, Gauteng Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba concluded that there was no likelihood of a different outcome should another court hear the matter. 'This case, far from the DA's contentions, does not raise questions of constitutional law that are of considerable public importance,' he said. Ledwaba rejected the DA's claim that the earlier judgment conflicted with another legal precedent, which found that appointments influenced by political considerations were unlawful. ALSO READ: DA legal challenge to Employment Equity sparks political divide He found that the two matters were not comparable. 'There is no need to regurgitate ten bases upon which the two cases are distinguishable. 'The upshot is that the DA failed to demonstrate compelling reasons for granting leave,' the judge continued. He further said the merits of DA's appeal were 'poor'. 'The application for leave to appeal is dismissed,' the judgment reads. The DA was also ordered to pay for the ANC's legal costs. Despite the loss, DA leader John Steenhuisen previously stated that the party would pursue the matter to the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) if necessary. ANC welcomes the outcome The ANC has since reacted to the ruling. 'The high court's dismissal of the DA's attempt to appeal the ruling on the ANC's cadre deployment policy is yet another blow to the DA's obsession with pursuing narrow-minded political games at the expense of genuine democratic progress,' the party said in a statement. READ MORE: Affirmative-action measures must 'not go too far', argues DA in court 'The court found, once again, that the DA's case had no reasonable prospects of success, failed to identify any unconstitutional elements in the policy, and relied on speculative, unproven allegations.' The ANC went on to accuse the party of misusing the judiciary to score 'cheap political points'. The party suggested the DA should instead focus on contributing to substantive policy debates and practical solutions for the country. The ANC welcomes the judgment of the High Court in Pretoria, which dismissed with clarity and conviction the Democratic Alliance's DA application for leave to appeal a ruling on the ANC's cadre deployment policy. May 7, 2025 DA's cadre deployment records case The DA secured a separate legal win in its ongoing battle over cadre deployment. In February 2024, the ConCourt ruled in favour of the DA, compelling the ANC to release records from its deployment committee within five days. These records — dating back to 2013 — include meeting minutes, emails, and WhatsApp messages, and are now in the public domain. Although the ANC publicly released the documents, according to the DA, many were heavily redacted, and some were still missing. As a result, the DA asked the court to intervene for contempt of court. The ANC tried to appeal but lost, and the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria confirmed that the party was in contempt. NOW READ: ANC MPs tell Mbalula to ditch DA in hostile meeting
