WeeklySA_AdminANC REJECTS CADRE ORDER
The African National Congress intends to appeal the judgment of the High Court in Johannesburg which found it in contempt of a February 2023 ruling on the declaration of cadre deployment records to the DA.
Earlier this month, in an action brought by DA MP Leon Schreiber, the ANC and the party’s secretary-general Fikile Mbalula were found to be in civil contempt of court for failure to hand over all the documents relating to the time when President Cyril Ramaphosa chaired the deployment committee.
The ANC, Mbalula and strategic support manager in the deputy secretary-general’s office, Thapelo Masilela, have argued that the High Court was misdirected in its ruling.
Schreiber had also failed to prove his case on the balance of probabilities and there was no act of unlawfulness by the party.
“ The ANC instead processed information which it had and explained its reasons for redacting some documents and explained the non-existing records of 2013 to 2018. “ – Lehlohonolo Lehana
NESTLE REJECTS CLAIMS
Swiss food giant, Nestle, has rejected accusations from an NGO that it added sugar to products in developing countries that it sold sugar-free in European markets.
“There is no double standard,” the company said in a statement. “We apply the same nutrition, health and wellness principles everywhere.”
In a report published last week, Swiss NGO Public Eye said that “two of the best-selling baby-food brands marketed by Nestle in low- and middle-income countries contain high levels of added sugar, while such products are sugar free in its home country, Switzerland.”
Nestle, which owns infant milk brands including Laboratoire Guigoz and Nestle Nidal, said its formula for babies under 12 months of age do not contain added sugars.
It said it has been phasing out added sugars worldwide in products for children older than one year.
“Our range of cereals for infants and young children are available with and without added sugars in many parts of the world – Lehlohonolo Lehana. See Page 5
LUBRICATING JELLY RECALL
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has recalled Lubri-A sterile lubricating jelly across all health facilities in the country after 380 patients contracted a yeast-like fungus stemming from use of the product.
The lubricating jelly is used in medical and surgical procedures such as inserting urinary catheters and ultrasound guided insertion of venous catheters.
Lubri-A is available in two presentations, the 2.5 g sachets and 50 g tubes. The recall is limited to the product called LUBRI-A (2.5g and 50g sachets) and does not affect other lubricating gel products authorised for sale in South Africa.
Between January 2022 and 4 December 2023, a total 380 patients from seven provinces tested positive for the fungal infection.
According to the NICD, current evidence suggests that a potential source of this fungus may have been a contaminated medical lubricating jelly used by health professionals across the heath system in the country. – Lehlohonolo Lehana.
IEC EXTENSION FOR ZUMA
The Constitutional Court has granted former President, Jacob Zuma and his uMkhonto we Sizwe Party until Tuesday to file answering affidavits in the application by the IEC against the Electoral Court’s order. The extension was granted after Zuma and his party had written to the apex court to grant them an extension until April 30. The Constitutional Court said had until the end of April to file their answering papers to the IEC appeal. The Electoral Court had earlier ruled- without providing reasons – that Zuma could stand as a candidate in the elections.
The IEC turned to the Constitutional Court to seek clarity on the interpretation of certain sections of the Constitution which were in dispute between lawyers representing Zuma and the IEC.
The IEC had decided that Zuma was not eligible to contest elections because of his conviction and 15-month jail sentence which was imposed by the Constitutional Court. – Lehlohonolo Lehana.
