Making headlines: Second sitting of Ahmed Timol inquiry to resume; Mugabe appeals to Zimbabweans abroad to come and help revive the economy; And, Gupta spin machine commissioned BLF's Mngxitama

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

Second sitting of Ahmed Timol inquiry to resume

The second sitting of the inquest looking into anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol’s death at John Vorster Square in 1971 resumes today.

Timol’s death was ruled a suicide in 1972, however a private investigation launched by Timol's family uncovered new evidence which it presented to the National Prosecuting Authority, asking for the inquest to be re-opened. The NPA agreed.

The Roodepoort teacher's loved ones have always maintained that they did not believe Timol, the 22nd person to die in police custody, had jumped from the 10th floor of John Vorster Square while being interrogated by security police.

Timol’s brother Mohammed previously said: "For many years now, Ahmed’s memory has lived on, but the official records have text that Ahmed decided to commit suicide during interrogation while in detention in 1971, October 27."

Mugabe appeals to Zimbabweans abroad to come and help revive the economy

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Friday pleaded with his country’s skilled workers living in the diaspora to return home so that they could help in reviving the southern African country's floundering economy.

This came at a time when an estimated four-million Zimbabweans were living outside the country after fleeing economic problems and alleged political persecution at the hands of the 93 year-old leader’s administration.

Officiating at his ruling Zanu-PF party’s youth rally held at Somhlolo Stadium in Lupane, Matabeleland North Province - about 600km of the capital Harare, Mugabe said skilled Zimbabweans working abroad should come back home so that they could help in developing the nation, which he says had vast mineral resources.

And, Gupta spin machine commissioned BLF's Mngxitama

Black First Land First leader Andile Mngxitama did not only meet with the Guptas, he also received an instruction to write an article about BizNews editor Alec Hogg on their behalf.

This has been revealed in the #GuptaLeaks which shows that Mngxitama met with Gupta lieutenant Santosh Choubey in February 2016 and that he asked the family for funding around the same time.

Mngxitama has denied receiving any money from the Guptas despite aggressively defending them.

A new email has been discovered that suggests Mngxitama did more than just meet the Guptas; that he actually received instructions from the family and that his “free” voice may, at least once, have been steered by London PR firm Bell Pottinger and the Guptas.

 

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today