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

Making headlines: ConCourt revives impeachment process against Ramaphosa; ANC marks 30 years of Constitution, says xenophobia must be opposed; And, Botswana's former president Festus Mogae dies

ConCourt revives impeachment process against Ramaphosa

South Africa's highest court today revived impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over a scandal in which a large amount of foreign currency was stolen from inside a sofa in his farmhouse in 2020.

In 2022 Ramaphosa's political party blocked an impeachment committee from being set up to further investigate the incident, which raised questions about how Ramaphosa acquired so much physical cash, whether he declared it and why he stuffed it in furniture instead of depositing it at a bank.

Ramaphosa, in power since 2018, has always denied wrongdoing over the scandal, dubbed "Farmgate" by local media, and has said the money was proceeds from the sale of some buffaloes on his game ranch.

ANC marks 30 years of Constitution, says xenophobia must be opposed

As South Africa commemorates 30 years since the adoption of its democratic Constitution, the African National Congress called on citizens to defend, deepen, and uphold constitutional democracy, which guarantees rights and equality for everybody.

In a statement, the party reaffirmed its dedication to a "united, inclusive, prosperous and non-racial" South Africa, while addressing contemporary challenges such as xenophobic tensions and the need for fair immigration policies.

Commemorating three decades of constitutional democracy, the ANC emphasised that the supreme law of the land represented the culmination of generations of sacrifice.

The party urged South Africans to actively oppose racism, tribalism, xenophobia, and sexism and to defend the rule of law and constitutional rights.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu described the constitutional commitment to pan-Africanism, solidarity, and unity among African peoples as “unshakable”.

And, Botswana's former president Festus Mogae dies

Botswana's former president Festus Mogae, who led the diamond-rich nation for a decade and won praise for good governance and the fight against HIV/Aids, has died at the age of 86, the government said, declaring three days of national mourning.

Mogae served as Botswana's third president from 1998 to 2008, handing power to his Vice President, Ian Khama in a smooth transition that highlighted the Southern African nation's reputation for political stability.

An economist by training, Mogae was credited with successful management of Botswana's economy. He tackled HIV/Aids openly at a time when Botswana faced one of the world's highest infection rates, and adopted one of the African continent's most comprehensive programmes against it.

Born in Serowe on August 21, 1939, Mogae studied in Britain before joining Botswana's civil service shortly after independence in 1966. He served as finance minister and Vice President before becoming President.

Mogae stepped down after the maximum of two terms allowed by the Constitution.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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