For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines: Ramaphosa to open 10th BRICS Summit; Zondo welcomes High Court decision to grant request that inquiry be extended; And, voter intimidation, threats of violence ahead of Zimbabwe elections

Ramaphosa to open 10th BRICS Summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today give the opening address at the 10th BRICS Summit in Sandton, where more than 1 000 delegates including heads of state and business people will converge.

Zondo welcomes High Court decision to grant request that inquiry be extended

Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has welcomed a decision by the North Gauteng High Court to grant his request for an order to extend the judicial commission of inquiry into allegations of state capture that he is heading for a further two years.

Zondo yesterday said that it brought relief to the commission, the secretary and his staff, the commission's legal team and investigators since they were given more time to do this very important work of the commission.

He said if the extension is confirmed on 2 October they will be able to really focus on the work without having to be concerned that in a few months' time the commission may have to stop its work because the 180 days will be up which has been the case so far.

The period of 180 days was included in the remedial action of the State of Capture report released by former Public Protector advocate Thuli Madonsela in October 2016.

And, voter intimidation, threats of violence ahead of Zimbabwe elections

Voter intimidation, threats of violence and coercion including people forced to attend political rallies are being increasingly reported ahead of Zimbabwe’s elections on July 30, especially in rural areas, the UN human rights office says.  

UN human rights spokesperson Elizabeth Throssell yesterday told a news briefing in Geneva that there has also been the worrying use of disparaging language against female political candidates.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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