Disgraced former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule is in the political wilderness after his expulsion from the party, and with a corruption trial looming. Now he is said to be pursuing relationships with other parties in a bid to present a meaningful challenge in the 2024 general elections.
In mid-June the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, or Hawks, and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate briefed the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police on progress made in their investigations. Committee members had some serious questions for those representatives present.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJCD) invites written public comments on proposed reforms to South Africa’s legislative whistle-blower protection regime. The proposals follow recommendations made in the Zondo commission’s report, and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s subsequent remarks on the matter in his response to the Zondo recommendations.
Members of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts are concerned that the failure by police official Brigadier Jap Burger to appear before it to answer questions relating to the Eskom corruption investigation, is another indication of reluctance to investigate the allegations. Some even went as far as suggesting a cover-up.
The Special Investigating Unit and the Presidency appeared before Parliament earlier in June to discuss the matter of action on report findings and consequence management. SIU head Andy Mothibi said the organisation has developed a debt recovery project which would help it to recoup the R986-million owed to it by errant state institutions.
South Africans are unhappy with the way democracy is working in the country, an Afribarometer survey has found. Furthermore, the majority of respondents see South Africa’s brand of democracy as highly flawed or non-existent.
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo ruffled parliamentary feathers last week when he criticised the institution for not acting sooner to stop state capture. His comments undermined the separation of powers principle, said Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo.
The National Youth Coalition, a group of more than 100 organisations, followed up its 2022 march to the Union Buildings on 16 June, Youth Day, with a similar event this year. However, it did not just hand over a memorandum of concerns as was the case last year, but included solutions to those concerns as well.
On World Whistle-blower Day, 23 June, we reflect that, after many years of half=hearted promises, the South African government appears to be finally creeping forward in terms of beefing up whistle-blower protection in the country.