48 Hours in Kroonstad

Ghanaian President John Mahama has suspended Supreme Court Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, a historic first for the country, amid three undisclosed petitions calling for her removal as an investigation is initiated. Critics, including former attorney general Godfred Yeboah Dame, argue that the suspension undermines judicial independence, with concerns raised over the lack of access to the petitions, which were eventually provided to Torkornoo for a private written response. As Ghana's third female chief justice, Torkornoo...

The head of the UN's food aid agency in Ethiopia, Zlatan Milišić, warned that millions are "one shock away from falling into a catastrophe" due to a funding shortfall, leading the World Food Programme (WFP) to halt treatment for over half a million malnourished women and children next month. Without additional funding, 3.6 million people will lose access to food aid, exacerbated by ongoing violence in Amhara and Oromia, a drought in the southeast, and...

Summary The Democratic Alliance (DA) has argued before the Western Cape High Court that Parliament has not lawfully endorsed the upcoming 0.5 percentage point VAT increase, scheduled to take effect on 1 May. Their urgent application seeks to suspend the VAT increase, claiming procedural irregularities in its approval process. The case is currently being heard by a full bench of the court, reflecting the DA's push to challenge the legality of the tax hike. Full...

In Goma, DRC, the Saint Vincent de Paul neuropsychiatric hospital has been providing free mental health consultations since March 24 for those affected by the recent M23 rebel fighting, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and displacements. Patients, like Patience Kahindo and Jospin Kasereka, have shared traumatic experiences, exacerbating mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. The situation is worsened by the government's recent suspension of former president Joseph Kabila's political party over...

Tonney Mkwapatira, who lives with albinism, mourned the murder of his childhood friend, Chikumbutso Masina, a victim of targeted violence against individuals with albinism in Malawi, where over 170 such crimes have occurred since 2014. Mkwapatira, an activist and teacher, has called for the release of government inquiry findings into these attacks, which he believes involve political figures and are exacerbated during electoral periods. He founded the Albino Association of Malawi to support children with...

The R360-million SAPS tender awarded to Vusimusi Cat Matlala has been marred by irregularities and misrepresentation, as revealed by an internal audit. Top cop Fannie Masemola was alerted to these issues in January and was advised to cancel the tender, but he did not take action. This situation highlights significant concerns regarding procurement practices within the SAPS. Full Article