Tuesday, March 24, 2009
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Amy Witherden.
Making headlines:
The ruling African National Congress has welcomed the Independent Electoral Commission's dismissal of objections lodged against three of its candidates for the April 22 election.
The objections included opposition to the candidature of ANC president Jacob Zuma and national executive committee member Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
The ANC says that the IEC's decision reinforces the party's contention that it has made every effort to ensure that its list of candidates is compliant with all relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
The IEC says that appeals against its decision on objections had to be lodged with the Electoral Court by March 26.

In other news, up to 2 600 Zimbabwean refugees queued outside the Central Methodist Church in downtown Johannesburg last night to be interviewed and registered by the United Nations High Commission on Refugees.
These Zimbabweans, many without knowledge of what was happening, had come to the Church from all over Johannesburg. Some had heard that Home Affairs was handing out asylum papers, while others had no idea what awaited them.
UNHCR official Andrew Hopkins explained that up to 60 Home Affairs and local government employees were taking details from the refugees in the church to identify who they were, as well as their 'vulnerabilities' and their skills.
Local government MEC Qedana Mahlangu reported at the weekend that six buildings in Johannesburg had been allocated for refugees, and that those taking shelter in the church might soon be moved out.

In other news, the Supreme Court of Appeal yesterday reserved judgement in an attempt by the Constitutional Court to appeal a High Court ruling in favour of Cape Judge President John Hlophe.
In September last year the High Court in Johannesburg ruled that the release of a media statement by Constitutional Court judges detailing "untested allegations of gross misconduct" against Hlophe was unlawful.
Hlophe's junior legal counsel told the SCA that the release of the media statement was a "highly irregular act" for members of the judiciary, while advocate Gilbert Marcus, defending the Constitutional Court's judges, said that there was neither a factual nor legal basis for the High Court's finding that Hlophe's rights to dignity, equality and fairness had been violated.

Also making headlines:
The World Health Organisation reports that Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic is easing.
The Democratic Alliance expects to poll over 40% in the Western Cape.
The World Trade Organisation's Pascal Lamy presses the US for support as world trade worsens.
And, the South African Presidency says that blocking the Dalai Lama's entrance into South Africa is in the country's best interests.

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.