Live Reporting
Dickens Olewe and Lucy Fleming
Sacked South African 'censorship' journalists return to workpublished at 12:17 British Summer Time 28 July 2016
12:17 BST 28 July 2016
Seven of the eightjournalists sacked by South Africa’s public broadcaster SABCfor speaking out against censorship at the corporationhave returned to work today - to the joy of one of their colleagues who tweeted this photo:
SABC backed down over their dismissalsafter a labour court ruled on Tuesday that the sackings of the first four were unlawful.
A freelance TV anchor, who was also fired, has yet to be reinstated.
The journalists were dismissed earlier this month for criticising theSABCfor banning footage of violent protests.
SABC argued it took the decision to maintain public order as the TV images might encourage others to join in.
Last week, South Africa's high court ordered SABC to lift the footage ban.
Read: Is South Africa's public broadcaster using apartheid tactics?
Widow's tribute to Gugu Zulupublished at 12:05 British Summer Time 28 July 2016
12:05 BST 28 July 2016
Pumza Fihlani
BBC News, JohannesburgThere wasn’t a dry eye in the church as mourners listened to Letshego Zulu’s final tribute to her husband Gugu at his funeral in Johannesburg this morning.
It was a letter addressed to her rally driver husband who died unexpectedly as the South African couple had tried to climb Mt Kilimanjaro earlier this month (see earlier post).
A close friend of the coupleread it out on her behalf:
Quote Message
My heart has a constant ache - a piece of my heart has been scooped out of my chest - there lies a gaping hole."
The letter related how she had visited Gugu Zulu'sbody to hold him, touch him, kiss him one last time.
Quote Message
I know you’re looking down at me from heaven and you’re saying, ‘Oh my love I’m sorry, I never wanted to see you crying.’
Quote Message
You’ve left me a sense of peace – I need you to continue flying our flag high. I promise to do just that."
The couple, who were together for 15 years, were fondly known as the “adventure couple” because of their love for the great outdoors.
She promised to continue exploring South Africa with their one-year-old daughter, Lelethu.
The letter ended:
Quote Message
Your dreams are safe with us – we are now the adventure couple."
See AlsoVoter suppression makes the racist and anti-worker Southern model possible: Rooted in Racism and Economic Exploitation: SpotlightHow to help western North Carolina flood victims and where to find donations after HeleneMigration—Joint Standing Committee—No one teaches you to become an Australian—Inquiry into Migrant Settlement Outcomes—Report, incorporating dissenting reports, December 2017Girl dies after elephant throws rock in Morocco zoopublished at 11:37 British Summer Time 28 July 2016
11:37 BST 28 July 2016
A seven-year-old girl has died after an elephant in a zoo in Morocco’s capital threw a rock at her.
She was hit on the head on Tuesday and died a few hours later at hospital, Rabat Zoo said in a statement, external.
Quote Message
Accidents of this type are rare, unforeseeable, and unusual. Accidents of this nature happened in international zoos, most recently in Disney World Orlando and the Cincinnati Zoo in the United States.”
Rabat Zoo
The statement said the enclosure met international standards withguardrails and ditches separating theanimals from thevisitors.
A bystander filmed the girl receiving treatment at the scene - and footagehasbeen posted on YouTube, external(beware the clip has graphic images.)
Al-Shabab 'destroys communication mast in Kenya'published at 11:22 British Summer Time 28 July 2016
11:22 BST 28 July 2016
TheIslamist militantgroup al-Shabab hasattacked and destroyed a communications mast inFino, a town in Mandera county innorth-eastern Kenya, the country's Daily Nation newspaper reports, external.
Bosita Omukolongolo, the region'spolice chief,told the paper ithappened early this morning.
"There was heavy fire exchange between the attackers and our officers guarding the area but no casualty has been reported, " he is quoted as saying.
This is the second attackby the militants on a mastin the area in the last two months.
He asked for the government to boost security in the area as "the destruction of the mast could be a signal that they are going to attack again."
Mandera borders Somalia, the base for the al-Qaeda-affiliated insurgents who have launched attacks in the area several times.
Al-Shabab has been at war with Kenya ever since Kenyan forces entered Somalia in October 2011 in an effort to crush the militants.
No end to Kenya's school firespublished at 11:08 British Summer Time 28 July 2016
11:08 BST 28 July 2016
Yet anotheremergency meeting has been called by Kenya's Education Minister Fred Matiang'ito try andfind a solution to the ongoing cases ofschool arson.
More than 100 secondary schools across the countryhave been burnt blamed onstudents.
The KenyaRed Cross hastweeteda photo of school dormitory burning this morning:
St Patrick's HighSchool inIten,renownedthe world over for its links with Kenya's elite athletes, is onethe latest to be affected.
Asbel Kiprop, the 1,500m world champion,took to Twitter last nightto share concern about the ongoing crisis:
MrMatiang'i saysthe wave of arson has been caused by a cartel behind examination cheating -protesting againststringent measures he introduced recently to curb the vice.
The mainteachers'union disagrees,blamingthe protests on the changes made to the school calendar by the education ministry which shortened the Augustvacations by two weeks.
Kenya's nationalnewspaperstoday areleading with acall for the government to find a solution:
Elephant killings in Africa 'stabilise'published at 10:37 British Summer Time 28 July 2016
10:37 BST 28 July 2016
Matt McGrath
Environment correspondent, BBC NewsThe rapid growth in the illegal killing of African elephants seen since 2006 seems to have stabilised and may be decreasing.
Two new reports indicate that across the continent, the numbers of elephants being killed for ivory has slowed.
But the picture is mixed as the slaughter in Central and West Africa shows no sign of moderating.
Some experts believe that the decline in deaths could be down to fewer elephants being alive to poach.
UN accuses Boko Haram of 'unimaginable violence' in Nigeriapublished at 10:28 British Summer Time 28 July 2016
10:28 BST 28 July 2016
The United Nations has accused the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram of "almost unimaginable" violence and brutality in Nigeria.
Stephen O'Brien, the UN humanitarian co-ordinator, said the militant group's actions had forced thousands to flee and left unprecedented numbers in need.
Quote Message
From January to June 2016, more than 50 children have been coerced to carry out suicide bombings across the four countries."
Stephen O'Brien
The UN estimates that more than nine million people in the region need humanitarian assistance.
Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State.
Boko Haram at a glance:
- Founded in 2002, initially focused on opposing Western-style education
- Boko Haram means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language
- Launched military operations in 2009
- Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria, and hundreds abducted, including at least 200 schoolgirls
- Joined so-called Islamic State, now calls itself IS's "West African province"
- Seized large area in north-east of Nigeria, where it declared caliphate
- Regional force has now retaken most territory
Zimbabwe five-star luxury 'compensates for days in the bush'published at 10:20 British Summer Time 28 July 2016
10:20 BST 28 July 2016
Zimbabweans are angered that one of theirvice-presidents'continuous stay at a five star hotel in the capital, Harare.
Phelekezela Mphokohas spent nearly 600 nights atthe Rainbow Towers Hotelsince he was sworn in as vice-president in December 2014,at a cost of $1,000 (£755)for his room and meals a day.
He is from the country's second cityBulawayo,and does not own a home in Harare and has reportedly rejectedofficial residences as inadequate.
The government says it owns the hotel and there is better security there.
The country has been has been facing serious economic problems, with the government strugglingto pay civil servants and its stock exchange under pressure after newsthat it recentlytraded a measly$105 in a single day.
TheBBC's Brian Hungwe in Harare has beenout and about seeking the public reaction.
Some people told him the VPwas a beneficiary ofPresident RobertMugabe'spatronage,others blamed his "voracious appetite for luxury",while another said the Mr Mphoko feltentitled to such luxuriousnessafter spending years in the bush fighting for liberation.
Sten Zvorwadza, an activist and chairman of the National Vendors Union,saidit was "irresponsible and selfish" touse of taxpayers' money when other accommodation was available. Listen to his interview on the BBC's Newsday programme:
Cartoonist's take on South Africa's deadly campaigningpublished at 09:32 British Summer Time 28 July 2016
09:32 BST 28 July 2016
South African cartoonistSifisoYalohas tweeted his impressions of the deadly campaign inthe run-up to hotly contested local elections in the country next week:
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
On Tuesday night, acandidate for councillor was shot dead in Port Elizabeth, taking the total number ofpoliticians killed in campaigning to 13 - most of them from the governing African National Congress (ANC) party.
Funeral for popular South African rally driverpublished at 09:18 British Summer Time 28 July 2016
09:18 BST 28 July 2016
Pumza Fihlani
BBC News, JohannesburgThousands of mourners are attending the funeral of Gugu Zulu, the South African rally driver whodied while attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
It is taking place at the Rhema Bible Church,one of the most well-known churches in Johannesburg.
Mr Zulu and his wife Letshego both descended the mountain when he experienced breathing problems whilst attempting the trip earlier in July for a Nelson Mandela-linked charity to raise funds to buy sanitary towels for girls.
The two known has as the “adventure couple” are well celebrated in sporting circles.
Social media has been flooded with message of support for Letshego and their one-year-old daughter Lelethu.
Mr Zulu won the hearts of many South Africans with his warm spirit as a motorsport television presenter and was well-loved even by those who did not follow racing.
Lion on the loose in Kenya's capitalpublished at 09:07 British Summer Time 28 July 2016
09:07 BST 28 July 2016
Odhiambo Joseph
BBC Africa, NairobiA lion is on the loose inKenya's capital, Nairobi, afterescapingfrom a nearby national park.
It is roaming through the upmarket suburb of Karen.
TheKenya Wildlife Service is trying to lure the cat back towards theNairobi National Park.
The park is separated by a main road from suburbsin the south of the city.
This is the third incident this year of a lion escaping the park.
How to catch a lion?
In less built-up areas bordering the park:
- Manually comb through areas of thick scrub, where lions tend to hide • Use helicopters to spot the animals and then fly low to steer them in a direction away from inhabited areas.
In densely populated areas:
- Alert the public to report sightings and stay clear of big cats
- Once located, lure the lion out into an open space with goat meat
- Once easily visible, a vet should fire a dart with tranquilisers to sedate the cat
- Never approach or irritate the animals - lionesses with cubs are most dangerous as they will attack if provoked even when not hungry.
Source: KWS senior warden Nelly Palmeris
Wise wordspublished at 09:01 British Summer Time 28 July 2016
09:01 BST 28 July 2016
Today's African proverb:
Quote Message
The world is a bone which you can only bite and leave
A Bemba proverb sent by Kelvin Kasongo in Kitwe, Zambia
Good morningpublished at 09:01 British Summer Time 28 July 2016
09:01 BST 28 July 2016
Welcome to the BBC Africa Live page where we'll be keeping you up-to-date with news and trends across the continent.