For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Trent Roebeck.

Making headlines: MKP calls ConCourt dismissal of Phala Phala interdict appeal ‘lazy’; DA lays criminal charges against 10 ‘worst’ municipal managers; And, Mapisa-Nqakula’s corruption trial postponed as she seeks discharge

MKP calls ConCourt dismissal of Phala Phala interdict appeal ‘lazy’

The MKP today said the Constitution Court’s decision to dismiss an application asking for direct access to appeal the halting of the Impeachment Inquiry against President Cyril Ramaphosa was “lazy”.

The apex court refused the application, brought by the African Transformation Movement, to overturn last month’s High Court decision, which granted Ramaphosa an urgent interdict to halt the impeachment process.

As a result, Parliament ceased its public hearings into the Phala Phala game farm scandal.

The Constitutional Court concluded that it is not in the interest of justice to hear the matter at this stage.

An imminent judicial review decision in the Western Cape Division of the High Court will likely render the interim interdict moot, the order read.

DA lays criminal charges against 10 ‘worst’ municipal managers

The DA today announced that it will lay criminal charges against 10 municipal managers across nine municipalities, labelling these officials the "worst" in the country due to systemic financial negligence.

DA Parliamentary leader George Michalakis stated that the targeted officials have presided over a decade of “financial chaos”.

The charges are based on consecutive "disclaimed audit opinions" from the Auditor-General and the DA has accused these municipalities of regularly ignoring official recommendations and failing to submit basic financial statements.

According to Michalakis, local resources are being "milked dry" while citizens are left without basic services.

The criminal charges target 10 specific administrators across four provinces.

And, Mapisa-Nqakula’s corruption trial postponed as she seeks discharge

The Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria today postponed the high-profile corruption trial of former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to August 20.

The postponement comes at the request of her defence team to secure the transcribed case records required to file an application for a discharge.

The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption confirmed that the pause in proceedings will allow the defence to prepare an application in terms of Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act.

This statutory provision allows an accused person to apply for an acquittal at the close of the prosecution's case if they believe there is no credible evidence showing they committed the offence.

IDAC Spokesperson Henry Mamothame explained that Mapisa-Nqakula has formally placed it on record in court that she will pursue this discharge.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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