Seven of the eight journalists sacked by South Africa’s public broadcaster SABC for speaking out against censorship at the corporation have returned to work today - to the joy of one of their colleagues who tweeted this photo:

SABC backed down over their dismissals after 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 the SABC for 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?

Pumza Fihlani
BBC News, Johannesburg

Image source, AP

There 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 couple read it out on her behalf:

The letter related how she had visited Gugu Zulu's body to hold him, touch him, kiss him one last time.

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:

Image source, YouTube

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.

The statement said the enclosure met international standards with guardrails and ditches separating the animals from the visitors.   

A bystander filmed the girl receiving treatment at the scene - and footage has been posted on YouTube, external (beware the clip has graphic images.)

The Islamist militant group al-Shabab has attacked and destroyed a communications mast in Fino, a town in Mandera county in north-eastern Kenya, the country's Daily Nation newspaper reports, external. 

Bosita Omukolongolo, the region's police chief, told the paper it happened 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. 

Image source, AP

This is the second attack by the militants on a mast in 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.

Yet another emergency meeting has been called by Kenya's Education Minister Fred Matiang'i to try and find a solution to the ongoing cases of school arson.

More than 100 secondary schools across the country have been burnt blamed on students.

The Kenya Red Cross has tweeted a photo of school dormitory burning this morning:   

St Patrick's High School in Iten, renowned the world over for its links with Kenya's elite athletes, is one the latest to be affected.

Asbel Kiprop, the 1,500m world champion, took to Twitter last night to share concern about the ongoing crisis: 

Mr Matiang'i says the wave of arson has been caused by a cartel behind examination cheating - protesting against stringent measures he introduced recently to curb the vice. 

The main teachers' union disagrees, blaming the protests on the changes made to the school calendar by the education ministry which shortened the August vacations by two weeks.

Kenya's national newspapers today are leading with a call for the government to find a solution:

Read more: Why are Kenyan schools being torched?

Matt McGrath
Environment correspondent, BBC News

Image source, CHRISTOPHE SIMON

The 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.

Read the BBC Science story for more.

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.

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.

Read the BBC news story

Boko Haram at a glance:

Image source, Boko Haram video/AFP

• 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 

Zimbabweans are angered that one of their vice-presidents' continuous stay at a five star hotel in the capital, Harare. 

Phelekezela Mphoko has spent nearly 600 nights at the Rainbow Towers Hotel since 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 city Bulawayo, and does not own a home in Harare and has reportedly rejected official residences as inadequate.

The government says it owns the hotel and there is better security there.    

Image source, AFP

The country has been has been facing serious economic problems, with the government struggling to pay civil servants and its stock exchange under pressure after news that it recently traded a measly $105 in a single day. 

The BBC's Brian Hungwe in Harare has been out and about seeking the public reaction.

Some people told him the VP was a beneficiary of President Robert Mugabe's patronage, others blamed his "voracious appetite for luxury", while another said the Mr Mphoko felt entitled to such luxuriousness after spending years in the bush fighting for liberation. 

Sten Zvorwadza, an activist and chairman of the National Vendors Union, said it was "irresponsible and selfish" to use of taxpayers' money when other accommodation was available. Listen to his interview on the BBC's Newsday programme:

South African cartoonist Sifiso Yalo has tweeted his impressions of the deadly campaign in the run-up to hotly contested local elections in the country next week:

On Tuesday night, a candidate for councillor was shot dead in Port Elizabeth, taking the total number of politicians killed in campaigning to 13 - most of them from the governing African National Congress (ANC) party.

Pumza Fihlani
BBC News, Johannesburg

Thousands of mourners are attending the funeral of Gugu Zulu, the South African rally driver who died 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. 

Image source, Instagram/ Gugu Zulu

Odhiambo Joseph
BBC Africa, Nairobi

A lion is on the loose in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, after escaping from a nearby national park.

It is roaming through the upmarket suburb of Karen.

The Kenya Wildlife Service is trying to lure the cat back towards the Nairobi National Park.

The park is separated by a main road from suburbs in the south of the city.

This is the third incident this year of a lion escaping the park.

How to catch a lion? 

Image source, AFP

  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 

Today's African proverb:

Image source, AFP

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