July,07 2016.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.
Making headlines:

African rights body urges government to intervene in SABC crisis

Buthelezi slams IFP sabotage accusations

And, time is running out to apply for special votes says the IEC

 

The African Commission on Human and People's Rights has sent an urgent letter of appeal to President Jacob Zuma to intervene in the crisis around the South African Broadcasting Corporation's editorial policies or else fall foul of the African Charter.

The commission's country rapporteur for South Africa, Med SK Kaggwa, in the letter said he had received "disturbing reports about alleged violations of the right to freedom of expression and access to information in South Africa".

He said the SABC's decision not to air footage showing protests in which public property was burnt and damaged amounted to censorship and the denial to the South Africa public of the full picture of what was happening in their country".

He also noted the unhappiness from journalists within the public broadcaster over editorial decisions.

Kaggwa said if the situation was not addressed, it would ultimately "infringe on the right of the electorate to receive information in the run-up [to] and during the elections".

Inkatha Freedom Party president Mangosuthu Buthelezi on Wednesday said accusations that his party orchestrated the demise of the National Freedom Party were false and baseless.

Speaking at a press briefing at the party's headquarters in Durban, Buthelezi said his party has always supported the NFP and urged them not to forfeit their right to vote.

The NFP had challenged the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa's decision to disqualify it after it failed to pay the registration fee by the June 2 deadline. It lost its case in the Electoral Court on Saturday.

On Tuesday, 28 NFP members were arrested after they blockaded a busy road on the turn-off to Ulundi near Melmoth in KwaZulu-Natal. They were protesting against the party's disqualification. The party on Wednesday said it was finalising documents to appeal the Electoral Court’s decision at the Constitutional Court.

Registered voters have until Friday afternoon to apply for a special vote ahead of the 2016 municipal elections, the Independent Electoral Commission has said.

So far over 285 000 applications for special votes have been received – 30% of them for home visits.

With 200 parties and over 61 000 candidates contesting the elections this year, the commission is hoping for a high turnout on August 3.

But for people who cannot make it to the polling booth on election day, the commission offers a special vote.

Two types of special votes are available to all registered voters including disabled, infirm and pregnant voters, members of security forces, election officials, the media and any other voters who are unable to get to the voting station on the day.

A home visit is available for the disabled, infirm or pregnant, while special voting at their voting station is an option for registered voters who are unable to get to their voting station on August 3.

Also making headlines:
Van Rooyen urged Tlokwe residents to update their details on voters' roll.

And, Voting EFF was voting for the future, said Malema.

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today