Regent appointed
TUNISIA - Tunisian President Kais Saied on Thursday sacked 57 judges accused of corruption and other crimes, after passing a new law strengthening his grip on the judiciary.
Saied, who has steadily extended his powers since he sacked the government and suspended parliament last July, issued a decree late on Wednesday allowing himself to unilaterally sack judges for ‘actions … that could compromise the judiciary’s reputation, independence or functioning’.
Reasons
In the early hours of Thursday, the official gazette published a list of judges who had been dismissed, and who may face prosecution. It did not list the reasons for their sacking.
Saied had at an earlier cabinet meeting accused unnamed judges of corruption, stalling ‘terrorism’ cases, sexual harassment, collusion with political parties and obstruction of justice.
In February, he already scrapped an independent judicial watchdog and replaced it with a body under his own control, a move critics decried as his latest blow to democracy in the birthplace of the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011.
DURBAN - The Sigcau Royal family has appointed a regent to lead the AmaMpondo aseQaukeni. A unanimous decision was taken to appoint Dumelani Sigcau as regent after the death of King Zanozuko Tyelovuyo Sigcau. The king passed away at a Durban hospital on Tuesday.
The family spokesperson, Prince Mzwandile Maraqana, says Dumelani will lead for 21 days only and then a new king will be appointed. Maraqana says they will communicate their decision to the Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane and the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC Xolile Nqatha.
Uncle
“Prince Dumelani Sigcau is the uncle of the late king. Remember, the king is born out of the Kimbili house, so Prince Dumelani comes from that house. In fact there are three of them who are surviving, so we have unanimously agreed that he must act in the meantime,” said Maraqana.
Maraqana said they would now communicate with the relevant stakeholders.
“Depending on the availability of the president, in terms of his diary but, however, this, we’ll communicate with the office of the premier so that he can communicate with the office of the presidency together with the office of CoGTA minister.”