For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines: Gana representing Parly in Phala Phala court battle against Ramaphosa; PIC suspends CEO, appoints new acting chief investment officer; And, WHO says it has less than half funding needed to fight Ebola

Gana representing Parly in Phala Phala court battle against Ramaphosa

The Western Cape High Court is scheduled to hear an urgent legal challenge on Wednesday and Thursday, positioning Parliament’s Section 89 Impeachment Committee chairperson Makashule Gana, at the centre.

Cited as the second respondent in his official capacity, Gana’s upcoming courtroom appearance underscores Parliament's firm commitment to defending its constitutional oversight mechanisms against high-level executive pushback.

The legal battle in the Phala Phala scandal intensified last month when the Section 89 Impeachment Committee resolved to formally oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa’s urgent court application attempting to halt the committee’s inquiry.

His urgent application aims to block the Impeachment Committee from proceeding with the impeachment process tied to the matter.

This litigation represents the latest chapter in the protracted legal saga surrounding the Section 89 inquiry currently before Parliament. The Presidency’s move to interdict the process is seen as a direct challenge to the legislative arm's power to hold the executive accountable.

PIC suspends CEO, appoints new acting chief investment officer

The board of the Public Investment Corporation has placed its CEO Patrick Dlamini on precautionary suspension, saying it is necessary to give him sufficient space and time to respond to allegations of impropriety against him that were submitted to the board in a whistleblower report last month.

The board is finalising interim arrangements for the appointment of an acting CEO.

Further, the PIC has also resolved that August Van Heerden will cease serving as acting chief investment officer. This decision follows a resolution by the PIC's biggest client, the Government Employees Pension Fund.

To ensure stability and optimum management of PIC investment decisions, the board has resolved that its head for fixed income in listed investments Leon Smit be appointed as acting CIO.

And, WHO says it has less than half funding needed to fight Ebola

The World Health Organization has received less than half the funding it needs to fight the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a WHO official said today, urging donors not to abandon the country at a critical stage of the epidemic.

The global health agency has received about 40% of its $115-million appeal to tackle the Bundibugyo outbreak, for which there is no proven treatment or vaccine. At least 1 926 people have been infected and 702 have died, government data show.

The head of the WHO's Health Emergencies Programme said the response had reached a critical point, with intensified efforts needed to detect and isolate patients after cases spread this week to two new provinces.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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