For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.
Making headlines: Court to rule on Atul Gupta's request to unfreeze R10-million, EFF says State capture inquiry is starting on the wrong foot  And, what you need to know about voter registration weekend

Court to rule on Atul Gupta's request to unfreeze R10-million

Controversial businessman Atul Gupta, whose whereabouts remain a mystery, will today find out from the Bloemfontein High Court if his request to unfreeze R10-million will be granted.

The Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority wants to keep the preservation order active that includes a freeze on Gupta's R10-million which was allegedly transferred by Estina into his private bank account.

Last week the court heard that the funds were part of about R220-million siphoned from the Free State provincial government meant for a dairy project designed to benefit poor black farmers in the province.

 

EFF says State capture inquiry is starting on the wrong foot

The EFF has already raised objections to the much-anticipated State capture inquiry even though it could be months before it kicks off.  

Party leader Julius Malema yesterday said that the EFF was not happy with black senior counsels in the inquiry being supervised by a white superior.

He said the party also wanted the head of investigations in the commission, Terence Nombembe, to recuse himself. The EFF accused him of having accepted a donation from Gupta-linked company Trillian while he was CEO of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. 

Nombembe will lead investigations while Advocate Paul Joseph Pretorius will lead the team of lawyers for the commission.

 

What you need to know about voter registration weekend

The Electoral Commission of South Africa has urged all South Africans to visit voting stations and register on Saturday and Sunday for the 2019 general elections.

 The IEC launched a number of initiatives to encourage South Africans to register following a 2016 Constitutional Court ruling which required the IEC to update the voters' roll with complete addresses.

Chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo said the voters' roll was a fundamental safeguard for free and fair elections.

Despite its best efforts to collect the addresses of voters, the electoral commission does not have addresses for 2.8-million voters.

Also making headlines:

EFF Leader Julius Malema said there are no holy cows when it comes to land questions.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today
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