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

Making headlines: Zondo says he and his deputy will support each other in leading the judiciary, NPA opposes Zuma appeal but won't file papers and, South Africa records 1 868 new Covid infections and 10 new deaths

 

Zondo says he and his deputy will support each other in leading the judiciary

Newly appointed Chief Justice Raymond Zondo says Supreme Court of Appeal President Mandisa Maya was one of the first people to congratulate him on his appointment – just as he had congratulated her after the Judicial Service Commission recommended her for the position.

Zondo says he looks forward to working with Maya, who he acknowledges is "an excellent judge".

Given that Zondo will only serve two and a half years before his term ends, this appointment will mean that Maya will be the frontrunner to replace him.

Zondo said he "was overwhelmed" by messages of support received in the wake of his appointment and stressed the importance of service to the country.

 

NPA opposes Zuma appeal but won't file papers

For the first time in Jacob Zuma's battle with his corruption prosecutors, the State has chosen not to file papers to explain its opposition to the former president's latest appeal bid – effectively fast-tracking the Appeal Court's decision.

Zuma denies charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering in a long-running case over an arms deal in the 1990s.

Last month Judge Piet Koen dismissed the six applications launched by Zuma against the legitimacy of his corruption prosecution and ordered the trial to begin in April.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said the NPA will oppose the petition for leave to appeal as it believes there are no prospects of success on appeal, adding that it stood by Judge Koen's judgment.

 

South Africa records 1 868 new Covid infections and 10 new deaths

South Africa recorded 1 868 new Covid-19 infections on Thursday, which represented a 6.5% positivity rate.

According to a statement by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, the country recorded over 3.6-million laboratory-confirmed cases.

Ten new Covid-19 deaths have been recorded, bringing the confirmed death toll to 99 681.

Gauteng recorded 635 new cases while the Western Cape accounted for 450 and KwaZulu-Natal 307.

There were 45 new hospital admissions in the last 24-hour reporting cycle.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter[PolityZA]