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

Making headlines: NPA withdraws charges against Zizi Kodwa and co-accused; Ramaphosa appoints members of Special Tribunal; And, Botswana's ruling party loses election, ending 58-year rule

NPA withdraws charges against Zizi Kodwa and co-accused

The Director of Public Prosecutions in Johannesburg, Advocate Andrew Chauke, has announced the decision to withdraw corruption charges against the former Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa and businessman Jehan Mackay.

Kodwa was implicated in the State Capture Commission of Inquiry for allegedly receiving a R1.7-million bribe from an executive of a local technology company, which received government tenders.

Kodwa was arrested, along with Mackay in July.

Chauke said the decision to abandon the prosecution was made following successful representations made by Kodwa and Mackay, evidential material in the case docket and reports from the prosecutor and regional head of the Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit, as well as consultation with the Investigating Officer.

Meanwhile, ActionSA announced that it will formally write to National Director of Public Prosecution Advocate Shamila Batohi, to review the National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to withdraw corruption charges against Kodwa.

Ramaphosa appoints members of Special Tribunal

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Judge Margaret Victor as Special Tribunal president with effect from Friday, for a period of three years.

The Special Tribunal has a statutory mandate to recover public funds syphoned from the fiscus through corruption, fraud and illicit money flows.

Special tribunals adopt a more flexible and expeditious approach to legal actions and its proceedings are inquisitorial in nature and characterised by extensive pre-trial investigations.

Ramaphosa also appointed members of the Special Tribunal, which include Eastern Cape Division of the High Court Judge Thandi Victoria Norman; Gauteng Division of the High Court Judge David Makhoba; Mpumalanga Division of the High Court Judge Brian A Mashile; North West Division of the High Court Judge Andre Henry Petersen and Western Cape Division of the High Court Judge Chantel Moira Jennifer Fortuin.

And, Botswana's ruling party loses election, ending 58-year rule

Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat today after a shock election result that saw his Botswana Democratic Party lose by a landslide after 58 years in power.

The president-elect is 54-year-old lawyer Duma Boko, leader of the Umbrella for Democratic Change coalition which passed the 31-seat threshold needed to secure a majority in parliament, according to results released on state television.

Masisi promised Boko that his party would retreat to being a loyal opposition and work with the new president for the betterment of the country.

Boko has not yet spoken since the results.

Analysts said that mounting socio-economic grievances, particularly among young people, were the downfall of the BDP, which has governed the small southern African state since independence from Britain in 1966.

Botswana has largely depended on its diamonds for income, but a downturn in the global diamond market caused economic growth to plummet this year, while unemployment rose to 28%.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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