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The Citizen
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Top 10 stories of the day: Child drug video: 4 charged
Here's your daily news update for Thursday, 31 July 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. News today includes four suspects appeared in the Johannesburg Regional Court on Thursday, facing charges of child abuse and attempted murder after a viral video showed a four-year-old boy being encouraged to smoke drugs. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) has dismissed former president Jacob Zuma and the MK party's urgent application to invalidate President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to place Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence, appoint Wits law professor Firoz Cachalia as acting police minister and establish a commission of inquiry. Furthermore, the South African Reserve Bank decided to cut the repo rate, as economists expected, although the governor started his speech with a reference to the uncertain global economic conditions. The decision was unanimous to cut the repo rate by 25 basis points. Weather tomorrow: 1 August 2025 Damaging winds and waves are forecast over parts of the Northern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, while most inland provinces can expect fine and cool conditions. Isolated showers are likely in parts of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Full weather forecast here. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way. Four suspects face attempted murder charges after viral child drug video Four suspects appeared in the Johannesburg Regional Court on Thursday, facing charges of child abuse and attempted murder after a viral video showed a four-year-old boy being encouraged to smoke drugs. The state added the attempted murder charge on Thursday, arguing that exposing the child to dangerous substances could have been fatal. Westbury resident and her friends after appearing at Johannesburg Magistrates court , 31 July 2025, for child abuse after a social media video showing a young boy smoking a bottleneck which her mother and three others are appearing in court for child abuse. This after a video on social media showed them encouraging a young boy to smoke from a bottleneck. Picture: Nigel Sibanda/ The Citizen The mother of the child and three other suspects, were arrested following community outcry over the disturbing footage. CONTINUE READING: Four suspects face attempted murder charges after viral child drug video Vodacom scores ConCourt win over Please Call Me inventor Nkosana Makate The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) has ruled in favour of Vodacom, sending the legal battle with Please Call Me inventor Nkosana Makate back to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). The judgment, delivered on Thursday, relates to Vodacom's application for leave to appeal against a February 2024 SCA ruling. A closed Vodacom outlet at the Sandton City Mall during a protest in support of Please Call Me inventor Nkosana Makate on 31 January 2019. Picture: Gallo Images / Thulani Mbele The appeal, heard by the ConCourt last November, challenged the SCA's decision to overturn Vodacom's offer of R47 million in compensation to Makate, who developed the Please Call Me service that allows network users to send free callback messages. CONTINUE READING: Vodacom scores ConCourt win over Please Call Me inventor Nkosana Makate MK party and Zuma suffer blow as ConCourt rules in Ramaphosa's favour [VIDEO] The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) has dismissed former president Jacob Zuma and the MK party's urgent application to invalidate President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to place Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence, appoint Wits law professor Firoz Cachalia as acting police minister and establish a commission of inquiry. The court ruling was handed down two hours after it hosted a special ceremonial sitting for retiring Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, whom Ramaphosa appointed to chair a commission to probe explosive allegations by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) top cop Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanzi of criminal infiltration in the South African justice system. President Cyril Ramapaphosa: Image: GCIS It has ruled that the application does not engage the court's jurisdiction and has refused direct access to the MK party and Zuma in its matter against Ramaphosa. CONTINUE READING: MK party and Zuma suffer blow as ConCourt rules in Ramaphosa's favour [VIDEO] Mashatile fined for failing to declare diamond gift from Louis Liebenberg Deputy President Paul Mashatile has been found guilty by Parliament's ethics committee for failing to declare a diamond gift received by his wife, Humile Mashatile, from controversial businessman Louis Liebenberg. Mashatile has also been in the spotlight due to his high-end lifestyle, luxury properties, and associations with corruption-accused individuals such as Edwin Sodi. Picture: iStock According to the deputy president's office, the diamond was undergoing verification to determine its authenticity and would be declared once the verification process was complete. CONTINUE READING: Mashatile fined for failing to declare diamond gift from Louis Liebenberg Reserve Bank cuts repo rate despite US Fed decision The South African Reserve Bank decided to cut the repo rate, as economists expected, although the governor started his speech with a reference to the uncertain global economic conditions. The decision was unanimous to cut the repo rate by 25 basis points. Lesetja Kganyago, governor of the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb), also confirmed that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Sarb will now prefer the inflation rate to settle at 3% as it wants to move away from the current inflation target band of 3% to 6%. Picture: iStock The MPC decided to cut the repo rate despite the US Fed not cutting interest rates in the US on Wednesday. The committee usually follows the Fed in deciding to change the repo rate. CONTINUE READING: Reserve Bank cuts repo rate despite US Fed decision Here are five more stories of the day: Yesterday's News recap READ HERE: Mom arrested for 'smoking' toddler | R147m police inquiry | half a million whites leave SA
Eyewitness News
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
MK Party says ConCourt not for the people after dismissing its urgent application against Ramaphosa
JOHANNESBURG - The MK Party said that the Constitutional Court's decision to dismiss its urgent application against President Cyril Ramaphosa showed that the apex court was not for the people. The court has denied direct access to the party and its leader, former President Jacob Zuma. The MK Party approached the court to set aside the president's decision to suspend Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and appointed Professor Firoz Cachalia as an acting minister. "It's clear that Lady Justice has got eyes and, unfortunately, this is something the South African public and the people on the ground must take into its own hands." The MK Party said the ruling by the Constitutional Court to deny it direct access, thus dismissing its case, proved KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's point that the judiciary was implicated in wrongdoing. "We picked up yesterday already that there was a sense to convolute the hearing itself and the submissions made by Counsel Mpofu and we could already see the technicality they were going to use was the issue of direct access." Ndlela has argued that the Constitutional Court cannot use direct access as a reason not to hear its matter after it sentenced former President Jacob Zuma to imprisonment without a trial in a lower court. While the MK Party can still approach the high court on an urgent basis, Ndlela said they would have to consult with their lawyers.
News24
7 hours ago
- Politics
- News24
‘Please Call Me' case back to SCA; Rates relief: Today's top 7 stories in 7 minutes
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day. News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature. No, the US did not confirm AfriForum's farm murder claims in an official investigation - A US State Department's human rights bureau X thread on South African farm attacks is being misrepresented as a formal investigation, with AfriForum claiming it confirms their stance. - The X thread draws heavily on AfriForum's data, omits the group's own report of a sharp decline in attacks in 2024, and makes politically charged assertions without sufficient evidence. - The Human Rights and Labour's future is uncertain due to potential budget cuts and internal turmoil, raising questions about whether its messaging is being influenced by political priorities. ConCourt dismisses Zuma, MKP's urgent legal challenge over Mchunu's special leave - The Constitutional Court dismissed the MK Party's legal challenges regarding Police Minister Senzo Mchunu's special leave and the Madlanga Inquiry. - The court found the MK Party failed to prove it alone could decide on litigation and didn't justify direct access to the Constitutional Court. - The ruling allows Professor Firoz Cachalia's appointment as acting police minister to proceed, but Jacob Zuma and the MK Party can still challenge the matter in the High Court. Mashatile's man, ANC leaders party with Cat Matlala at corruption-accused Sodi's mansion - Underworld figure Vusimusi 'Cat' Matlala attended Edwin Sodi's 50th birthday party, mingling with high-ranking ANC politicians. - Matlala faces criminal charges for a botched hit and his company won a R360 million police tender that was later cancelled amid fraud claims. - The presence of Matlala and his connections with influential figures have raised concerns about political influence and corruption. Vodacom victory sends 18-year 'Please Call Me' battle back to Supreme Court of Appeal - The Constitutional Court has ordered the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) to rehear the 'Please Call Me' case between Nkosana Makate and Vodacom. - The Constitutional Court found that the SCA failed to provide proper reasoning in its previous ruling, which directed Vodacom to pay Makate 5-7% of the product's revenue. - Makate remains confident and Vodacom is reviewing the judgment to determine its next steps in the long-standing legal battle. Interest rates cut to lowest level since 2022 - The SA Reserve Bank lowered interest rates by 25 basis points, reducing the repo rate to 7% and the prime rate to 10.5%. - Inflation has been below 3% since March, but is expected to rise to 3.3% by year-end due to factors like higher fuel prices. - The SA Reserve Bank downgraded its growth expectation for the year due to the impact of US trade tariffs, which are set to increase on South African goods. Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images 'A unifying factor': 20 000 in Paarl brace for world rugby's biggest schoolboy derby - Paarl Gimnasium and Paarl Boys High will compete in their annual Interschools derby, a major schoolboy rugby event. - Gimnasium is aiming for an undefeated season, while Boys High seeks to break their two-derby losing streak. - The derby is a unifying event for the schools and the town of Paarl, drawing a crowd of over 20 000.
Mail & Guardian
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
MK takes Ramaphosa to constitutional court
Legal battle: Jacob Zuma and his uMkhonto weSizwe party took President Cyril Ramaphosa to the constitutional court this week. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G) Ex-president Jacob Zuma's legal team is challenging his successor's handling of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu's suspension, accusing him of shielding allies This content is restricted to subscribers only . Join the M&G Community Our commitment at the Mail & Guardian is to ensure every reader enjoys the finest experience. Join the M&G community and support us in delivering in-depth news to you consistently. Subscription enables: - M&G community membership - independent journalism - access to all premium articles & features - a digital version of the weekly newspaper - invites to subscriber-only events - the opportunity to test new online features first Already a subscriber?
IOL News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
‘Travesty of justice': MK Party slams Constitutional Court's dismissal of Ramaphosa case
Jacob Zuma's MK Party says it is shocked but not surprised, after the Constitutional Court dismissed its application to challenge President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to place Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave and appoint Professor Firoz Cachalia. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers MK Party has lashed out at the Constitutional Court, following its dismissal of the party's application challenging President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to place Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave and appoint Professor Firoz Cachalia. The court determined that the issue did not merit its consideration and should instead be referred to the High Court, a decision that has ignited outrage among members of the MK Party. Speaking at court, MKP national spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, accused the judiciary of selectively applying justice, saying the ruling revealed "a travesty of justice" and exposed a legal system that "no longer serves the people." 'We are shocked, but not surprised. This is the same court that granted direct access to incarcerate President Jacob Zuma without trial,' Ndhlela said, referring to Zuma's 2021 contempt ruling. 'Now, when faced with Ramaphosa's alleged delinquency, they defer to technicalities.' Ndhlela said the court's refusal to hear the matter directly flies in the face of its precedent. 'Why was direct access granted in the Zuma, Zondo Commission, and secret ballot matters—but now denied in a case affecting every South African? The inconsistency is glaring,' he added. He also criticised the judiciary for allegedly shielding Ramaphosa from accountability. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'Phala Phala remains unresolved. The CR17 bank statements are still sealed. And now, even a basic attempt to hold the President to account through judicial channels is being stonewalled,' Ndhlela said. Lady Justice is no longer blind—she has chosen a side, he stated. The MK Party has not ruled out further legal or political steps. 'We will consult with our national leadership and legal team. But one thing is clear—South Africans must now ask if this judiciary still serves them,' he said. Advocate Dali Mpofu SC, representing the MKP, echoed concerns about the legal reasoning behind the court's decision. 'The public must understand the difference between direct access and exclusive jurisdiction,' he said. Mpofu said: 'Direct access is granted in exceptional cases of national interest. What could be more compelling than allegations that the sitting President manipulated state processes for political expediency?' Mpofu also challenged what he called the court's double standards. Direct access was granted in multiple high-profile cases involving Zuma, yet now it is deemed inappropriate for matters involving Ramaphosa. No one seems to ask why, he said. While Mpofu declined to comment in detail on the merits of the case, he confirmed that the party's legal team would be consulting with their client to explore next steps. 'There's no case before the court now, but that could change. We may be back—here or elsewhere.' The ConCourt's decision added fuel to the already simmering tensions between the MKP and South Africa's top courts. With the 2026 local elections looming, the fallout from this judgment may become a rallying point for a party determined to position itself as the voice of the disillusioned. IOL Politics
