For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Haydon Whitley.

Making headlines: Ramaphosa extends Madlanga Commission deadline to November; Lawyer says 11 more Trump deportees arrive in Eswatini from the US; And, World Bank says Kenya economy to grow 4.3% in 2026, 4.4% in 2027

Ramaphosa extends Madlanga Commission deadline to November

President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the final report deadline for the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System.

The commission is now scheduled to submit its final report on November 16, shifting from the originally anticipated date of August 31.

Spokesperson to the President Vincent Magwenya explained that the extension granted by Ramaphosa sets an evidence deadline of October 2, and a reporting deadline of November 16, to enable the commission to close off topics it has opened up in the course of hearings to date.

Magwenya explained that without this additional time, large parts of the crucial investigation would remain unfinished. The extension ensures that the commission can adequately hear evidence on every matter listed in its official terms of reference.

Lawyer says 11 more Trump deportees arrive in Eswatini from the US

Eleven more migrants deported by the Trump administration under a policy of sending them to third countries arrived in Eswatini from the US yesterday, a US lawyer following the case said.

The arrivals bring to 29 the number sent to the Southern African country under a $5.1-million agreement that has been challenged by lawyers who say deportees are being detained despite having already served sentences for crimes committed in the US.

Alma David, a lawyer for some of the original deportees sent to Eswatini last year - and who is in touch with local prison sources there - confirmed the arrival to Reuters by text message.

Of the 29 deportees sent from the U to Eswatini, only two have been released and repatriated, one to Jamaica and the other to Cambodia.

And, World Bank says Kenya economy to grow 4.3% in 2026, 4.4% in 2027

Kenya's economy is expected to expand by 4.3% this year and by 4.4% in 2027, the World Bank said today, with this year's forecast being 0.6 percentage points lower than its November prediction due to the impact of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Kenya's economy grew 4.6% in 2024. Meanwhile, the country's finance ministry expects growth of 5.0% this year and 5.2% in 2027.

"In the short term, higher global energy prices and increased uncertainty are expected to raise production costs, weaken private investment growth and weigh on household purchasing power through higher commodity prices and moderating remittance inflows," the bank said in its latest economic update.

The bank said adequate agricultural harvests, easing monetary policy, a stable exchange rate and recovering credit to the private sector would help cushion the economy.

East Africa's biggest economy has been expanding steadily by around 5% a year, but there are near-term risks including the fallout from the war in Iran, which has led to a surge in petroleum prices and disrupted shipping around the Strait of Hormuz.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA