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

Making headline: Official unemployment rate drops as lockdown discourages job seekers, IEC rejects registration of Mashaba's Action SA party, appeal in the works and, Zimbabwe accuses opposition of gun-smuggling plot

 

Official unemployment rate drops as lockdown discourages job seekers

South Africa's official unemployment rate fell in the second quarter as a coronavirus lockdown saw fewer people actively looking for employment.

But the expanded jobless figure which includes people who have stopped looking for work soared, the statistics agency said on Tuesday.

In its quarterly labour force survey, which was conducted by phone for the first time because of the pandemic, Statistics South Africa said the unemployment rate dropped to 23.3% in the three months to end June, from a record high of 30.1% in the first quarter.

Statistician General Risenga Maluleke said during 'stage 5' and 'stage 4' of the lockdown many did not continue looking for employment so they can not be classified as unemployed.

 

IEC rejects registration of Mashaba's Action SA party, appeal in the works

Newly launched party Action SA has threatened to lodge an appeal after the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa rejected its application to register as a political party.

It says its registration is legitimate.

Action SA national chairperson Michael Beaumont said its application for political party status was rejected on the basis of a perceived similarity to another political party and the use of the South African flag in its logo.

He said the political party referred to, Party of Action, changed its name to Party of Action South Africa a day after Action SA was launched on 29 August.

 

Zimbabwe accuses opposition of gun-smuggling plot

Zimbabwe's state security minister on Monday alleged a plot by "rogue elements" in the opposition working with Western governments to smuggle in guns and foment chaos, signalling another possible crackdown.

Without providing evidence, Owen Ncube told reporters the plot was part of a wider plan to oust President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government illegally.

Since the time of former President Robert Mugabe, similar accusations have been made against the opposition, usually as a precursor to a crackdown.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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