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

Making headlines: Presidency, ANC clarify position on ICC, ANC says leaving is a ‘last resort’; Loadshedding downgraded for long weekend; And, Sudan's Bashir and allies out of jail, Khartoum fighting flares

Presidency, ANC clarify position on ICC, ANC says leaving is a ‘last resort

Following contradictory comments from various members, the African National Congress has resolved to clarify its position on South Africa’s mooted withdrawal from the International Criminal Court by stating that this would only be a measure of "last resort".

The ANC affirmed its stance that South Africa should stay in the ICC; however, in a media briefing, party secretary general Fikile Mbalula remarked that the ANC would revoke the country as a signatory. President Cyril Ramaphosa also remarked that the ANC had taken such a decision.

The party, however, said in a statement following Mbalula and Ramaphosa’s controversial remarks that “the withdrawal from the ICC as a measure of last resort would only arise if the options discussed do not garner the desired results of fairness and consistency in the administration of international law”.

Also in a turnaround, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya affirmed South Africa’s position as a signatory of the Rome Statute, maintaining that “South Africa is guided by the importance of strengthening institutions of global governance”.

Loadshedding downgraded for long weekend

Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented from 4pm today until 5am on Thursday, Eskom announced.

Thereafter, loadshedding will be progressively reduced until it reaches Stage 1 by Sunday.

Breakdowns are currently at 16 283 MW of generating capacity while the generating capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 5 065 MW, Eskom said.

Over the past 24 hours, a generation unit at Kriel Power Station was returned to service. In the same period, a generating unit each at Camden and Duvha power stations was taken offline for repairs. The delays in returning a unit to service at Kendal and two units each at Kriel and Tutuka power stations contributed to the current capacity constraints, Eskom said. 

And, Sudan's Bashir and allies out of jail, Khartoum fighting flares

Sudan's capital resounded with gunfire and explosions on the western outskirts today, eroding a truce amid collapsing basic services, dwindling food supplies and the opening of a prison that let out allies of a jailed former autocrat.

With the conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces showing no sign of easing, the army said former president Omar al-Bashir had been transferred to a military hospital before hostilities started on April 15.

It said Bashir was moved from prison with at least five former members of his regime, including Abdel Rahim Mohamed Hussein, who along with the former president is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes for atrocities during an earlier conflict in the Darfur region.

The whereabouts of Bashir came into question after a former minister in his government, Ali Haroun, announced he had left Kober prison in Khartoum with other former officials. Haroun is also wanted by the ICC on dozens of war crimes charges.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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