April 05, 2022

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sashnee Moodley.

Making headlines:

End of National State of Disaster welcomed

Zondo says all JSC interview candidates will be treated with dignity

And, West Africa faces historic food crisis driven by conflict, price surge

End of National State of Disaster welcomed

The Democratic Alliance and Cosatu have welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that the National State of Disaster will come to an end today.

In his speech to the nation last night, Ramaphosa warned that certain regulations may remain in place for a limited period for "post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation".

This includes mask wearing and venue limits.

While the DA welcomed the announcement it cautioned government against replacing the National State of Disaster  with Health Act amendments.

Meanwhile, Cosatu reminded South Africans that Covid-19 remained a real threat to lives and livelihoods as a fifth wave is expected as winter approaches. 

Zondo says all JSC interview candidates will be treated with dignity

Newly appointed Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has assured the public that the five candidates gunning for two spots in the Constitutional Court will be treated with dignity and respect during the Judicial Service Commission interviews.

JSC interviews for the Chief Justice position came under heavy criticism recently because of the line of questioning some of the commissioners put to the candidates.

The JSC kicked off its interviews of the five candidates hoping to fill the two vacant spots. Once the interviews are done, the JSC is required to present the President with the names of five candidates.

The interviews are expected to run until Friday.

West Africa faces historic food crisis driven by conflict, price surge

West Africa is facing its worst food crisis on record driven by conflict, drought, and the impact of the war in Ukraine on food prices and availability.

International aid organizations warned that there are about 27-million people suffering from hunger in the region. That number could rise to 38-million by June, a 40% increase from last year and a historic high.

Large areas of West Africa are facing Islamist insurgencies that have forced millions of people off their land.

On top of that, global food prices have surged and trade has been disrupted due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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