Daily Podcast – May 16, 2017

16th May 2017 By: Thabi Shomolekae - Creamer Media Senior Writer

Daily Podcast – May 16, 2017

South African President Jacob Zuma
Photo by: Duane

May, 16 2017.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines:
Zuma's lawyer says MPs won't vote differently in secret ballot
Zimbabwean minister warns Zuma against 'copying' Zim's 'land reform agenda'
And, DA says Molefe could 'obstruct' investigations

 

There is no risk for Members of Parliament who openly vote against President Jacob Zuma if they truly believe they have lost confidence in him, his lawyer argued in the Constitutional Court yesterday.

Ishmael Semenya argued before a full bench that the assumption that MPs would vote differently in a vote of no confidence if it were to be conducted in secret, was wrong.

He dismissed the argument that MPs faced repercussions and placed themselves at risk if they openly voted against the party line.

He was arguing in the UDM's bid for the court to order National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete to conduct the vote by secret ballot. Judgment was reserved.

 

A Zimbabwean cabinet minister has reportedly warned South Africa against copying Zimbabwe's "land reform agenda".

According to a Financial Times report published on the New Zimbabwe.com website, Zimbabwe's tourism minister Walter Mzembi warned South Africa against land reforms.

Early this year President Jacob Zuma called for radical land reforms in South Africa, abandoning the "willing buyer, willing seller policies".

In February, during his reply to the State of the Nation debate, Zuma insisted that the land would be returned to the people. He also maintained at the time that the calls for land restitution had nothing to do with hatred of whites.

 

The reinstatement of Brian Molefe as Eskom CEO places him in a "position to frustrate or obstruct" any investigations against him, the DA said in court papers.

The party yesterday brought an application in the High Court in Pretoria, asking it to rule Molefe's reinstatement by Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown irrational and unlawful.

It firstly wants the court to interdict Molefe from performing any duties or functions as Eskom CEO and from receiving any benefits associated with the position and, secondly, to set aside his appointment.

 

Also making headlines:
NPA still investigating Zuma's Nkandla case


To keep in touch with the news while you are on the move, visit m.polity.org.za

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today