For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: Putin arrest warrant prompts South Africa to weigh moving Brics Summit, Stage 6 loadshedding to continue until Friday and, Zimbabwe's 'Patriotic Bill' outlaws criticism of government before election

Putin arrest warrant prompts South Africa to weigh moving Brics Summit

South Africa is considering switching the venue of an upcoming summit of Brics leaders to another country, according to people familiar with the matter, a move that would resolve its dilemma over whether to execute an international arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The government is considering asking China to host the meeting of heads of State, or alternatively neighbouring Mozambique, but no decision has been taken yet.

But Department of International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor’s spokesperson, Lunga Ngqengelele, said that as things stand, the summit will be held in Gauteng.

South Africa has invited Putin, along with the leaders of Brazil, India and China, to the summit set to take place from August 22 to 24.

Neither China nor Mozambique are parties to the Rome Statute that established the ICC.

Stage 6 loadshedding to continue until Friday

Eskom  has announced that Stage 6 load shedding will be implemented from today at 4pm until 5am on Friday.

This will be followed by varying stages of load shedding over the weekend.

Breakdowns stand at 17 863MW of capacity, while planned maintenance is at 2 437 MW. 

Zimbabwe's 'Patriotic Bill' outlaws criticism of government before election

Zimbabwe's parliament has outlawed criticism of the government ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections in August, with violations of a new law punishable by up to 20 years in jail.

The Criminal Law Code Amendment Bill, widely known as the "Patriotic Bill", contains a clause that criminalises "wilfully damaging the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe".

It has raised fears that the government could launch a crackdown on dissent ahead of the general election on August 23, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be seeking a second term.

The 80-year-old's main rival is 45 year old lawyer and pastor Nelson Chamisa, who leads the newly formed Citizens Coalition for Change.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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