Lebo Diseko
BBC News, Johannesburg

Image source, Reuters

A court in Zimbabwe has relaxed restrictions on an American citizen accused of insulting former President Robert Mugabe, according to her lawyer.

Martha O'Donovan was accused of subversion, after allegedly calling Mr Mugabe a "selfish and sick man" on Twitter, a charge which she denied.

Ms O’Donovan was alleged to have made the comments in a tweet dated 11 October last year. She was charged with insulting the former president and plotting to overthrow the government, with the latter charge carrying a maximum of 20 years in prison.

At this morning’s court appearance, state lawyers had sought for restrictions on Ms O’Donovan to remain in place, asking for more time to prepare their case.

Ms O’Donovan’s lawyer Obey Shava says although the charges remain, the restrictions she had been under, like reporting to the police several times a day, have been relaxed.

Crucially, she can also get her passport back and will now be allowed to travel. He said she is expected to have her passport returned later today, although he would not be drawn on whether she plans to leave the country.

Mr Mugabe stepped down as president of Zimbabwe in November, after a military takeover.

Four people have died in a train crash in South Africa's Free State, a private ambulance service says.

Netcare911 are among the paramedics on the scene in Kroonstad, where the train is reported to have collided with a vehicle.

It said on Twitter another 40 people had sustained injuries:

Initial reports suggest as many as 100 people had been injured in the accident, with pictures from the scene showing several carriages burning.

Marius Muller, of campaign group Afriforum, shared this video:

Read our earlier post on the incident here, and keep checking back with Africa Live for the latest updates.

Image source, Getty Images

Tanzania's central bank has cancelled licences for five banks and placed them under receivership, reports the East African, external.

The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) said the lenders "are critically undercapitalised".

"Continuation of their operations in their current position is detrimental to the interest of depositors and poses a risk to the stability of the financial system," it said.

Covenant Bank for Women, Efatha Bank Limited, Njombe Community Bank Limited, Meru Community Bank Limited, and Kagera Farmers’ Cooperative Bank Limited have all lost their licences.

The newspaper adds that, three weeks ago, President John Magufuli ordered the regulator to take action against banks with inadequate capital.

Reports are emerging of a train crash in South Africa's Free State.

Footage being shared on social media shows a train on fire, after reportedly colliding with a truck between Hennenman and Kroonstad.

Paramedics are on the scene, with ER24 medical service reporting about 100 patients needing treatment.

South African news site Maroelamedia (report in Afrikaans, external) said the incident happened at about 09:15 local time (07:15 GMT).

Passenger Tiaan Esterhuizen said the train was filled with tourists on their way from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg.

He said his family had chosen to take the train because they thought it would be safer.

BBC World Service

Image source, Getty Images

The Somali Prime Minister, Hassan Ali Khaire, has replaced three senior ministers in a cabinet reshuffle.

The foreign minister, Yusuf Garaad Omar, interior minister, Abdi Farah Said Juha, and commerce minister Khadra Ahmed Duale have been dropped.

Mr Khaire's government has been criticised for failing to stem attacks by al-Shabab militants.

• Read more: Who are Somalia's al-Shabab?

BBC World Service

Image source, Getty Images

Patients undergoing surgery in Africa are more than twice as likely to die following an operation than the global average, research in the Lancet medical journal reveals.

But researchers said the most worrying revelation was just how few Africans undergo elective surgery - surgery that is scheduled in advance. The number of these operations is 20 times fewer than the real need.

They called the deficit a "silent killer".

Prof Bruce Biccard, a co-author of the study from the University of Cape Town, told the Guardian, external the main problem is insufficient medical staff to spot complications.

“[The reason] that people do so terribly in Africa from a surgical point of view is that there are just no human resources,” he said.

It was the largest study of its kind ever undertaken in Africa, and included 25 countries.

Uganda's foreign minister says he is "baffled" by reports the country is to accept thousands of African migrants being expelled from Israel.

Henry Oryem Okello told the Daily Monitor, external that no such deal had been reached with Israel, which is ordering Africans it labels "infiltrators" - meaning those who did not enter the country through an official border crossing - to leave within 90 days.

According to reports, Uganda was one of two African countries - the other being Rwanda - prepared to accept the migrants if they refused to return to their home countries.

Mr Okello, the state minister for international affairs, told the newspaper:

Many of the migrants facing expulsion come from Eritrea and Sudan, and say they are unable to return as they came to Israel to seek asylum after fleeing persecution and conflict.

But if they refuse, they risk being jailed.

Read our full story on Israel's decision here.

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