Daily Podcast – January 23, 2018

23rd January 2018 By: Paige Müller - Creamer Media Reporter

Daily Podcast – January 23, 2018

Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo
Photo by: SAGov

Making headlines: Deputy Chief Justice to hold briefing on State capture inquiry; ANC passes the buck to government on free higher education and land expropriation; And, suspended Eskom CFO resigns

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Paige Muller.

Deputy Chief Justice to hold briefing on State capture inquiry
 
Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo is expected to reveal further details of the commission of inquiry into allegations of State capture at a briefing in Midrand today as the State takes steps against some of the people implicated in the claims.

On January 9 this year President Jacob Zuma finally announced the establishment of the commission, as recommended by the former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela who released the report, State of Capture, in October 2016.

The report was the first part of an investigation into allegations that wealthy businesspeople, the Gupta family, had a hand in some ministerial appointments and were benefitting financially from close associations with decision makers at government entities such as Eskom.

ANC passes the buck to government on free higher education and land expropriation

The ANC has left it to government to work out the methods and procedures of implementing fee-free higher education and land expropriation without compensation, ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule said yesterday.

The party's national executive committee lekgotla, which met at the weekend has, however, recommended a moratorium on the sale of State land.

It also believed the state should introduce "conditions" to the tertiary funding model.

President Jacob Zuma has faced criticism for announcing free tertiary education for students from households with an income of less than R350 000 without providing details on how it will be funded or work. His announcement caught ANC senior leaders by surprise as it contradicted the Heher Commission that investigated the feasibility of free higher education and found that government could not afford it.

And, suspended Eskom CFO resigns

Suspended Eskom chief financial officer, Anoj Singh, resigned yesterday with immediate effect, South Africa's power utility said.

Eskom received a formal letter of resignation from his attorney.

The board of Eskom, through the Chairperson, has accepted the resignation and communicated the acceptance through Singh’s attorneys.

On Saturday, the Presidency announced that Phakamani Hadebe has been appointed Eskom acting CEO with immediate effect, while Jabu Mabuza will take over as chairperson of the board, and all Eskom executives facing allegations of serious corruption and other acts of impropriety, including Matshela Koko and Singh, would immediately be removed.


Also making headlines:
City of Cape Town appoints acting commissioner to replace official implicated in De Lille allegations
And, Transnet board and executives expected in hot seat after being served summonses by Parliament

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today
To keep in touch with the news while you are on the move, visit m.polity.org.za