For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines: Mildred Oliphant resigns as MP; Michael Komape case heads to Supreme Court of Appeal; And, preparations for State of the nation address well underway

Mildred Oliphant resigns as MP

Former labour minister Mildred Oliphant says Parliament's benefits structure should be reviewed, as many former ministers have to consider forfeiting half of a loss-of-office gratuity if they are demoted.

In an interview on PowerFm today, Oliphant explained that she resigned as a Member of Parliament, partly to avoid losing benefits at a certain salary level.

Oliphant is the latest in a string of resignations to hit the National Assembly. She joins a list of former ministers who resigned after they were left out of President Cyril Ramaphosa's recently formed Cabinet.

Michael Komape case heads to Supreme Court of Appeal

The case of five-year-old Michael Komape, who fell into a pit toilet at his school and drowned, is heading to the Supreme Court of Appeal.

In 2014, Michael drowned when the pit toilet at Mahlodumela Primary School in Seshego, in Limpopo, collapsed when he was using it.

Section27's Zukiswa Pikoli confirmed that the claim was for emotional shock and trauma and added that the family was also claiming R2m in damages for grief, alternatively constitutional damages.

And, preparations for State of the nation address well underway

Parliaments presiding officers have said that preparations for next week's State of the nation address are "at an advanced stage.

Briefing journalists on Sona, the second for 2019 due to a new Parliament being put in place following the May general elections, Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli indicated the event had been significantly "modified".

Some of the ceremonial aspects that would be missing from the June Sona would be the junior and civil guards chosen to form part of the State procession.

Some R2-million has been budgeted for the Sona, though Lechesa pointed out that they would likely spend significantly less.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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