For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines: Ramaphosa shortlists four candidates for chief justice, including Zondo; Business chamber claims that cops were instructed not to intervene during July unrest; And, 11 new deaths in South Africa as Covid-19 cases jump by 566

Ramaphosa shortlists four candidates for chief justice, including Zondo

President Cyril Ramaphosa has shortlisted four candidates for the position of chief justice.

He has submitted the list of candidates to the Judicial Service Commission and leaders of political parties for consideration.

The Constitution requires the president to consult the JSC on the appointment of the chief justice.

The candidates are Constitutional Court Justice, Mbuyiseli Madlanga; President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Judge Mandisa Maya; Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Dunstan Mlambo; and Deputy Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo.

Business chamber claims that cops were instructed not to intervene during July unrest

The chairperson of the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business said police officers were instructed to stand down during the deadly July unrest.

Testifying before the South African Human Rights Commission's hearing today, chamber CEO Melanie Veness claimed police officers were told not to get involved in the unrest.

Pietermaritzburg was among the areas affected by the unrest that claimed over 350 lives and wreaked havoc in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Veness told the commissioners the unrest was devastating and traumatising as she described seeing the mayhem and bodies strewn along the roadside at the peak of the riots.

She said the Pietermaritzburg area was plunged into complete chaos, with no assistance from local police or the likes of KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala, who she said she personally attempted to contact.

And, 11 new deaths in South Africa as Covid-19 cases jump by 566

South Africa recorded 566 new confirmed Covid-19 infections on Wednesday, along with 11 deaths, bringing the confirmed death toll to 89 515.

According to a statement by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, as of Wednesday, the country recorded over 2.9-million laboratory-confirmed cases.

As of Wednesday, Gauteng recorded 921 368 confirmed cases, KwaZulu-Natal 516 300 and the Western Cape 514 294.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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