For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines: Ramaphosa scores R857-million UK funding, Cele says Hawks to have a new head by June And, Dlamini and Bhengu argue they should not be held financially responsible for CPS contract extension debacle

Ramaphosa scores R857-million UK funding

President Cyril Ramaphosa and British Prime Minister Theresa May agreed on a deal worth millions to help South Africa improve its business environment.

Ramaphosa is in the UK on a working visit to London to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which will take place on Thursday and Friday.

A statement from 10 Downing Street stated that R857-million new UK funding across the next four years will help South Africa improve its business environment to make it more attractive to investors, including in the UK, and ultimately lift some of the poorest people in South Africa out of poverty by creating jobs and opportunities.

Ramaphosa also visited to Windsor Castle and received two letters from Queen Elizabeth that the late former president Nelson Mandela had written her.
 

Cele says Hawks to have a new head by June

The Hawks will have a new head by the start of June, Police Minister Bheki Cele told the Portfolio Committee on Police yesterday.

Cele said candidates were shortlisted last week Wednesday, but that there had been a problem with the advertisement of the post.

Lieutenant General Yolisa Matakata is currently acting head of the Hawks, after her predecessor Lieutenant General Berning Ntlemeza's appointment was set aside by the North Gauteng High Court in March last year.

Dlamini and Bhengu argue they should not be held financially responsible for CPS contract extension debacle

Former minister of social development Bathabile Dlamini and the acting CEO of the South African Social Security Agency, Pearl Bhengu, believe they should not be held personally liable for the costs of extending Cash Paymaster Service's contract with the agency.

Dlamini and Bhengu were given until April 16 by the Constitutional Court to explain via affidavits why they should not be held financially responsible for the legal costs of extending the contract.

The Constitutional Court granted Sassa an application to allow CPS to continue distributing the grants for another six months.

Also making headlines:

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane told MPs that her office has had to spend more than R15-million over the last four financial years to defend various reports that have been taken on judicial review.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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