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

Making headlines: MKP wins ward from ANC in Western Cape; Amnesty International calls for legislation to protect human rights defenders; And, Congo rebels dismiss ceasefire calls, capture strategic town

MKP wins ward from ANC in Western Cape

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has won a seat, previously held by the African National Congress, in the Saldanha Municipality, in the Western Cape during Wednesday’s by-elections, while the ANC retained its seats in Gauteng and Northern Cape.

By-elections were held in Gauteng, Northern Cape and Western Cape.

Saldanha Bay’s Ward 1 became vacant following the death of a councillor.

Mzwandile Biko will be the new councillor for Ward 1 in Saldanha Bay after winning 36.33% of the vote.

Amnesty International calls for legislation to protect human rights defenders

Amnesty International South Africa said there is an urgent need for specific legislation to protect those advocating for human rights, urging President Cyril Ramaphosa to acknowledge “human rights defenders” in addition to whistleblowers.

Amnesty Internal executive director Shenilla Mohamed said the protection of those who advocate for human rights should be paramount, particularly in a society that values justice and equality.

South Africa celebrates Human Rights Day on March 21.

Mohamed noted the murders of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, activist Imam Muhsin Hendricks, gender activist Pamela Mabini and medical doctor and activist Dr Gomolemo Mokae.

She noted that while the motives for the killings were not yet known, the murders must be met with a “prompt and thorough investigation that identifies and considers human rights works as a possible motive, holds perpetrators accountable and leads to justice”.

And, Congo rebels dismiss ceasefire calls, capture strategic town

The leader of Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in eastern Congo said that a call by Kinshasa and Kigali for an immediate ceasefire "doesn't concern them" as forces pushed deeper into Congolese territory by capturing the strategic town of Walikale.

Walikale is the farthest west the rebels have reached after fighting yesterday with Democratic Republic of Congo's army and allied militias.

The town of about 15 000 people, is in an area rich in minerals including tin. Its capture leaves the rebels in control of a road linking four eastern Congo provinces and within 400 km of Kisangani, Congo's fourth-biggest city.

Three Walikale residents and two M23 sources said the rebels were in full control of the town.

Yesterday, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame called for an immediate ceasefire after a surprise meeting in Qatar's capital Doha, their first direct talks since M23 stepped up its offensive in January.

But the leader of the M23 alliance dismissed the appeal, and said his forces were not fighting at Rwanda's behest.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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