For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: DA, ActionSA want Qedani Mahlangu prosecuted for Life Esidimeni tragedy; Gwarube flags ‘misinformation’ as deadline for comments on new history curriculum looms; And, IMF, World Bank, IEA warn that fuel prices may remain high for prolonged period

DA, ActionSA want Qedani Mahlangu prosecuted for Life Esidimeni tragedy

Opposition parties, the Democratic Alliance and ActionSA today demanded accountability in the long-drawn-out Life Esidimeni case, calling for former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu’s prosecution.

While hailing the National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to prosecute those responsible for the Life Esidimeni mental health patients’ deaths as a necessary step, both parties remarked that justice had been delayed for too long.

In 2016, 144 mental healthcare patients died following the Gauteng Department of Health's decision to terminate its contract with Life Esidimeni to cut costs. The patients were moved to ill-equipped NGOs, leading to widespread neglect.

The DA is calling those identified by the inquest to be prosecuted on the full range of possible charges including culpable homicide.

ActionSA Member of Parliament Dr Kgosi Letlape described the tragedy as a catastrophic failure of leadership, ethics and governance.

The party pointed out that the 2021 inquest already identified Mahlangu and former Mental Health director Dr Makgabo Manamela as accountable for the deaths.

Gwarube flags ‘misinformation’ as deadline for comments on new history curriculum looms

Ahead of the deadline for public comment on the draft history curriculum, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has cautioned against misinformation, noting that some claims circulating about the draft curriculum are inaccurate.

The Department of Basic Education has invited public comments on the draft History Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements by April 19.

The draft document, Gwarube explained, aims to overhaul how history is taught, with a stronger focus on pre-colonial African history.

In 2019, former Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga, appointed a Task Team to develop a new history curriculum for Grades 4 to 12. That work resulted in the current proposed draft curriculum document.

Gwarube said she noted the public debate regarding the draft history curriculum and the concerns raised, urging stakeholders to engage with the document.

And, IMF, World Bank, IEA warn that fuel prices may remain high for prolonged period

The heads of the International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank Group have jointly warned that fuel and fertiliser prices may remain high for a prolonged period even if regular shipping flows resume through the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement after a meeting of the coordination group the three entities established in early April to maximise their response to the energy and economic impacts of the war in the Middle East, they indicated that the negative effects could linger given the damage to infrastructure as a result of the conflict.

In an earlier analysis, Wood Mackenzie indicated that 11-million barrels per day of upstream production was currently shut-in across the Middle East and could only be restored once export logistics normalised.

The analysis indicated that, even unconstrained, it would take countries such as Iraq between six and nine months to reach prior production levels, owing to the complexities of both reservoir management and resource constraints.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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