SABC News Headlines: 16th February 2023

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* President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to reply to the two-day Joint Debate on his seventh State of the Nation Address this afternoon. Today also marks five years since he delivered his first SONA on 16 February 2018 after he was elected and sworn in as President the previous day.

* Legal Analyst, Reitumetsi Phiri says although such an application is rare – it is possible that the apex court may look favourably on an application for leave to appeal an interim interdict – if it is in the interests of justice. Former President Jacob Zuma recently turned to the Constitutional Court for leave to appeal the interim interdict granted to President Cyril Ramaphosa last month pending the outcome of Ramaphosa’s challenge to Zuma’s private prosecution bid against him scheduled to be heard in May. Zuma claims Ramaphosa contravened the National Prosecuting Authority Act on the alleged disclosure of his medical records.

* The memorial service for the late chef and entrepreneur, Tibello “Tibz” Motsoane, will be held at Sacred Heart Collage in Observatory, Johannesburg this afternoon. Tibz was murdered last Friday together with his long-time friend, rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes in Durban – KwaZulu- Natal. Apart from organizing events, Tibz also managed artists – including being the former manager of the late rapper AKA.

* The eight men convicted of murder and attempted murder relating to the killing of nine residents from the Glebelands hostel in Durban and the wounding of seven others, are expected to be sentenced today. Earlier this week, the Pietermaritzburg High Court heard an argument in the mitigation of the sentence. During the trial, the court heard that the hitmen conspired to kill hostel residents, who threatened their control of the hostel between 2014 and 2016. In October last year, the 8 men were convicted of various charges, including murder attempted murder, unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.