Making headlines: Bizo’s testimony casts doubt on the judge who ruled Timol’s death as suicide; ANC stalwarts to discuss consultative conference boycott; And, ANC regains control of Mogale City

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

Bizo’s testimony casts doubt on the judge who ruled Timol’s death as suicide

The credibility of the judiciary which ruled the death of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol as suicide was cast with doubt during the inquest into his death at the South Gauteng High Court yesterday.

Human rights lawyer George Bizos took the stand and testified that lawyers, police and doctors lied under oath about Timol’s cause of death.

Magistrate JL de Villiers ruled during an inquest in 1972 that Timol committed suicide by jumping out of the 10th floor of the infamous John Vorster Square, currently known as the Johannesburg Central police station.

According to Bizos, Timol had injuries which he sustained while in custody. Two doctors also supported the medical findings but the judge dismissed their reports and supported that of the State pathologist which claimed that Timol had injuries before he was in detention.

ANC stalwarts to discuss consultative conference boycott

Disgruntled ANC stalwarts and veterans are today set to shed light on plans to boycott the ruling party’s consultative conference, after their pleas for a special stand-alone conference fell on deaf ears.

They will gather at Constitutional Hill, a former prison complex that bears testament to the country’s dark past and which houses the Constitutional Court.

It was the Constitution and the founding values of the ANC that the group had recently referred to when they called on President Jacob Zuma and "all those who were party to State capture" to step down.

Their letters to Zuma and the ANC National Executive Committee last month pleaded for leadership to be shown over serious State capture concerns.

ANC regains control of Mogale City

Former Mogale City ANC speaker Patrick Lipudi was elected mayor after beating the DA’s Michael Holenstein.

Lipudi received 39 votes while Holenstein got 36 at the Tuesday night council sitting. Two votes were spoilt.

The ANC’s Noluthando Mangole was elected speaker.

The troubled coalition council in the West Rand has been marred by spats after last year’s local government elections. The ANC lost control of the municipality after the polls, paving the way for the Economic Freedom Fighters to form a coalition and take control of the council.

 

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today