Daily news update: Phala Phala vote, Tembisa Hospital raided, ANC elective conference loses sponsor

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Daily news update – 14 December

Ramaphosa spared as MPs vote against adopting Phala Phala report

The vote in the National Assembly on whether or not to adopt the Phala Phala report ended with the majority of members voting against it.

On Tuesday, 214 MPs voted ‘no’. There were 148 votes for ‘yes’, with two abstentions.

The results of the vote mean President Cyril Ramaphosa won’t face impeachment proceedings at this stage.

Hawks raid corruption embroiled Tembisa Hospital

The Hawks in Gauteng conducted a raid at the corruption embroiled Tembisa Hospital on Tuesday as part of its investigation into the irregular procurement of contracts worth R850 million.

Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said they were collecting documents and electronic gadgets in relation to the fraud and corruption investigations at the hospital.

“A search and seizure operation was conducted by the Gauteng Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation based on information received from irregular contracts awarded by supply chain management at Tembisa Hospital to 217 service providers,” said Mogale.

Media sponsor pulls out of ANC elective conference

A sponsor tasked with building facilities to allow media houses to report on the upcoming ANC elective conference has reportedly pulled out.

The news was confirmed by national spokesperson Pule Mabe, who told SABC News this was owed to the sponsor experiencing “a number of challenges”.

Reporters may now have to pay money from their own budgets to set up booths in the media village, just a few days before the start of the 55^th elective conference, due to start on Friday.

Phala Phala debate in Parliament: ‘Vote by secret ballot declined’ – again

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) chief whip Floyd Shivambu requested a secret ballot during the Phala Phala vote because he says members of parliament have been threatened by their party.

Shivambu said it is “objectively and conclusively reactionary and suppressive of the democratic process and rights of members of Parliament to want to say that they must vote on an open ballot”.

Despite this, Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula ruled against the secret ballot, saying the decision was made for the vote to be a public roll call.

Deputy eThekwini mayor ousted from ANC executive council

The deputy mayor of the eThekwini municipality, Philani Mavundla, has been removed from the executive committee.

This forms part of an urgent motion submitted to remove Mavundla from the ANC’s committee.

eThekwini municipal speaker Thabani Nyawose confirmed 125 votes were cast in favour of his removal, 59 against, and five abstained. As such, the motion was carried through.

PHOTOS: Hendrik Potgieter Road collapse – closed until further notice

The section of Hendrik Potgieter Road – which showed signs of fracture on Monday – collapsed on Tuesday after recent floods damaged the stormwater channel.

Ward 97 councillor Jacques Hoon said the section between Johan Road and Zandvliet Road in Little Falls has been closed until further notice.

WATCH: Man involved in accident robbed in broad daylight

An accident in Berea Road, Durban, turned deadly after a victim was not only robbed, but paramedics were shot at.

Berea Mail reports that ALS Paramedics were responding to the accident, which took place on Monday afternoon.

ALS spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said paramedics saw a group of men at the accident scene with firearms drawn while driving down the road.

“Suspects then began shooting at our ambulance, and our crews managed to evade and call for help,” said Jamieson.