Daily news update: Mkhwabane fights back, Ace Magashule case and EFF disruptions

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Daily news update – 11 June

Mkhwebane to challenge suspension by ‘conflicted Ramaphosa’

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane will be challenging her suspension from office by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Mkhwebane made the announcement in a statement, barely 24-hours after she was suspended by Ramaphosa, who himself is under investigation by the Public Protector for allegedly breaching the executive code of ethics relating to criminal activities at his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo.

Mkhwebane said Ramaphosa’s decision to suspend her pre-empted the Western Cape High Court judgment, which he knew was going to be delivered on Friday morning.

‘Charged or not charged, I’m going to stand’, Magashule says of ANC conference

Suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule says if he is nominated by ANC branches at the party’s upcoming elective conference in December, he will not decline the nomination.

Speaking to the media on Friday, on the sidelines of his court appearance in Bloemfontein, Magashule said it did not matter that he was asked to step aside last year due to his corruption case.

“When I’m nominated I can assure that I’m going to stand… whatever they nominate me for. Charged or not charged, I’m going to stand if nominated because I was elected by branches,” he said.

WATCH: EFF MPs booted from parliament (again) after disrupting Ramaphosa’s speech

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s response to the Presidency’s budget speech debate has once again been suspended on Friday, after Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MPs continued to disrupt proceedings.

This comes after the president’s presentation in the National Assembly chambers descended into chaos on Thursday, when EFF members continuously heckled Ramaphosa and other ANC MPs.

Moments after Ramaphosa started his speech on Friday morning, an EFF MP raised a point of order.

Ramaphosa says ANC’s step aside process would apply to himself if he’s charged

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he won’t interfere with the investigation surrounding the alleged theft of $4 million at his Limpopo far, and he would also abide by the party’s processes if the ANC’s step aside rules were to come into play.

Ramaphosa faced questions from the media on the $4 million robbery at his Phala Phala farm in Waterberg, Limpopo, which is said to have taken place on 9 February 2020.

Fraser last week laid criminal charges against the president of money laundering, kidnapping and corruption.

Parliament plans to send Electoral Amendment Bill to Ramaphosa by September

Parliament says it plans to send to the Electoral Amendment Bill to President Cyril Ramaphosa way ahead of its December deadline for approval.

The National Assembly on Friday was granted a six-month extension as a deadline to amend the the Electoral Act 73 of 1998.

The extension, until 10 December 2022, will afford time for the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs to amend the Act to allow independent candidates to stand in national and provincial elections in the future.

Alleged Parliament arsonist Zandile Mafe’s case to be heard in August

The case against alleged Parliament arsonist Zandile Christmas Mafe will be heard in the Western Cape High Court in August for a pre-trial hearing.

Mafe on Thursday made a brief appearance at Cape Town Magistrates Court in connection with the Parliament fire on 2 January 2022, which destroyed the Old and the New Assembly buildings in Cape Town.

The 49-year-old faces charges of housebreaking, terrorism, arson, and theft. He has denied the charges against him, with his legal team accusing the state of making him the scapegoat for the fire.

PICS: Inside the Gupta’s luxury R445 million mansion in Dubai

All eyes are back on the Gupta family after Rajesh and Atul Gupta were handcuffed in Dubai this week, placing questions about their luxury lifestyle back in the spotlight. 

The brothers’ arrest follows an Interpol red notice which was issued last year for the friends of former President Jacob Zuma, who were wanted for widespread graft, fraud, and money laundering.

There have been calls to extradite the Gupta brothers back to South Africa for years, since they fled to the UAE.

‘Slowly recovering’ – Lira gives encouraging health update after receiving Sama nod

Award-winning Afro-pop songstress and writer Lerato “Lira” Molapo gave fans another health update after she had suffered a stroke earlier this year. 

The singer was in Germany and set to perform at an event when the stroke happened, her management team confirmed in April. 

In May, the Feel Good hitmaker said she is making progress every day and now a couple of weeks later, she has more good news to celebrate. 

Ria Ledwaba explains why she gave Safa honorarium money back

SA Football Association (Safa) presidential hopeful Ria Ledwaba says she sent back the money which was paid to the organisation’s executive because she felt they did not deserve it. 

Safa recently approved honorarium benefits for its national executive committee which includes its president and the deputies. 

Ledwaba says she first received R20 000 in December which she sent back to Safa in protest as she did not know what it was for.