For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Shomolekae

Making headlines: ANC says Oupa Mogotsi's ANC membership has expired; Civil society organisations want Malema to step down from JSC; And, Justice Madlanga takes reins as Rhodes University Chancellor

ANC says Oupa Mogotsi's ANC membership has expired

The African National Congress today moved to unequivocally distance itself from organised criminal activity, confirming that Oupa Brown Mogotsi, is no longer an ANC member.

The party said it noted that certain individuals, including Mogotsi, had been alleged to be involved in serious organised criminal activity.

This comes as testimony before the Madlanga Commission links Mogotsi to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, who have been implicated in corruption, political interference and malfeasance within the South African Police Service, which the country was originally alerted to when Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi went public with allegations.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said the allegations against Mogotsi were “deeply concerning".

Bhengu noted that the party’s membership records confirmed that his ANC membership had expired.

She stated that crime and corruption were the enemies of development and democracy, promising that the ANC would act firmly and “without hesitation” against any of its members found to be involved in criminal activity.

Civil society organisations want Malema to step down from JSC

Following Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema’s conviction in his firearm discharge case, civil society organisations Freedom Under Law, Defend our Democracy, and Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution want Malema to step down as a member of the Judicial Service Commission, and they are also urging the National Assembly to remove him should he decline to step down.

The East London Magistrate’s Court handed down its verdict at a hearing on Wednesday, where Malema was found guilty of violating the nation’s gun laws for firing a weapon at a political rally.

In 2018, a video emerged showing Malema firing several shots in the air during his party's fifth anniversary celebrations held in the Eastern Cape province.

Malema’s sentencing will take place on January 23.

The organisations believe that the firearms conviction, the hate speech finding, and the parliamentary ethics finding, prove that he should not serve on the JSC.

And, Justice Madlanga takes reins as Rhodes University Chancellor

Newly elected Rhodes University Chancellor Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga will on October 10 preside over the University’s special postgraduate graduation ceremony.

Last month, the university unanimously elected Madlanga to succeed Justice Lex Mpati, who is retiring as the chancellor after 13 years.

The university said Madlanga’s inaugural ceremony marked a new era for Rhodes University, and underscored its dedication to academic excellence and social justice.

As chancellor, he will serve as the ceremonial head of Rhodes University, presiding over graduation ceremonies and acting as an ambassador for the university.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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