July 23, 2014
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Jonathan Rodin.
Making headlines:
 

The Presidency says the SIU probe into Nkandla is still ongoing.

Gambia takes steps to improve its poor human-rights record after the EU suspends development aid.

And, the ruling ANC warns against Parliamentary anarchy.

The investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (or SIU) into upgrades to President Jacob Zuma's private home in Nkandla was still ongoing, said the presidency.

The investigation ensued after Zuma signed a proclamation authorising the SIU to probe the public works department's "prestige project" at Nkandla. The presidency said the probe was one of 27, which were still ongoing following proclamations signed by the president.

The president had undertaken to hand National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete a comprehensive report on the outcome of three separate investigations into state spending on his home by the end of Wednesday last week.

However, on Thursday last week, his spokesperson Mac Maharaj said the president needed more information before responding to findings about his home.

Gambia has taken steps to improve its poor human-rights record after the European Union suspended €150-million in development aid this year. Activists are urging tougher action by the international community.

Gambia received €75-million of aid over the past six years from the European Development Fund, but in the spring northern European member states blocked disbursement of further aid, citing grave human rights violations.

Gambia President Yahya Jammeh has drawn international condemnation by subjecting political opponents to torture, forcing them to confess to sedition on television and executing prisoners in 2012. At the UN General Assembly in September, he also stirred outrage by attacking gay rights as a threat to humanity.

In a report on Tuesday, Amnesty International and human rights groups also urged action by the international community to end two decades of repression in Gambia, which is home to 1.8-million people.

African National Congress deputy chief whip Doris Dlakude has warned that Parliamentary rules will be used to punish MPs making themselves guilty of offensive behaviour.

Speaking during the budget vote debate of Parliament yesterday, Dlakude expressed concern about "retrogressive parliamentary relations". Her comments follow several incidents in the past few weeks.

Tensions between the Economic Freedom Fighters and the Freedom Front Plus remain high following a number of incidents involving MPs from the two parties. Democratic Alliance and ANC MPs have also been involved in heated arguments during the budget vote debates over the past two weeks.

Dlakude urged MPs against engaging in mudslinging and "operating in an anarchist manner".

She warned that political intolerance displayed on the parliamentary platform would only breed political intolerance beyond the corridors and confines of the institution, which wouldn’t serve the interests of building a free and democratic society.

Also making headlines:

Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel says government will be prioritizing infrastructure, industrialisation, investment and innovation, inclusion and integration as part of its “radical economic transformation” agenda for the coming five years.

Boko Haram moves unopposed into a strategic Nigerian town.

And, energy regulator Nersa says a standardised tariff for electricity resellers is needed to avoid consumers being overcharged.

Also on Polity:

Watch the latest edition of Suttner’s View with Professor Raymond Suttner, as well as an interview with creative parenting expert Nikki Bush as she discusses child and parent development issues for the wired generation.

Also, read global civil society coalition Social Watch’s annual report “Means and Ends”, which tracks progress on the Millennium Development Goals.

Follow us on Twitter @PolityZA for updates on breaking news

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.