For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Trent Roebeck.

Making headlines: National Treasury confirms 21 February as budget day; Government expects judgment in genocide case against Israel on Friday; And, DA threatens court action if govt, IEC do not increase voting centres for expats

 

National Treasury confirms 21 February as budget day

South Africa’s national budget day has been confirmed for February 21 at 14:00, according a statement by the National Treasury.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will "announce government’s spending, tax and borrowing plans for the next three years" in Parliament, it said.

This year’s event will be closely watched, with Godongwana having said during the medium-term budget presentation in November that significant cost-cutting measures will be undertaken within the government and that the fiscus needed to recoup about R15-billion in taxes.

Promises by various finance ministers in the past to curb government’s spending haven’t amounted to much and analysts have questioned whether or not the state has the stomach for austerity measures, especially in an election year.

 

Government expects judgment in genocide case against Israel on Friday

Government expects the International Court of Justice to hand down judgment on provisional measures sought in South Africa's genocide case against Israel on Friday.

Government delegation has touched down in The Hague in anticipation of the judgment. 

Two well-placed sources close to the matter said they were expecting the 17-member Bench to deliver its ruling on provisional measures that include ordering Israel to stop military actions in Gaza while the case is being determined.

However, the ICJ registrar has yet to issue formal communication on the matter.

In its application, South Africa accused Israel of violating the Genocide Convention. 

Israel has vehemently opposed the case. 

 

And, DA threatens court action if govt, IEC do not increase voting centres for expats

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation risks being hauled to court if it does not increase the number of temporary foreign missions, so that expats can vote abroad. 

The Democratic Alliance Abroad network has written to the Electoral Commission of South Africa asking it to request temporary missions where South Africans can vote abroad.

If the IEC and department do not oblige, the party will challenge the government in court, said its chairperson, Ludre Stevens.

However, DIRCO spokesperson, Clayson Monyela, said the DA was barking up the wrong tree.

The IEC said it could not increase the number of voting centres abroad because the law did not allow it. 

South Africans abroad can vote at 125 voting centres, which include embassies, high commissions and consulates.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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