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

Making headlines: Impeachment committee opposes Ramaphosa’s interdict; ANC slams DA’s proposed GNU reshuffle as ‘populist, contradictory’; And, floods inflict record R9bn damage on Cape

Impeachment committee opposes Ramaphosa’s interdict

Parliament’s Section 89 Impeachment Committee has resolved to formally oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa’s urgent court application to halt its inquiry.

Following a crucial legal briefing, the committee confirmed it will file a notice to oppose the interdict ahead of tomorrow’s deadline.

The decision sets up a high-stakes constitutional showdown in the Western Cape High Court, scheduled for July 15 and 16.

In a bid to present a unified legislative front, the committee has requested that National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza join them in defending Parliament’s constitutional mandate.

Ramaphosa launched his urgent application last week, aiming to block the committee from proceeding with the impeachment process tied to the Phala Phala scandal.

Committee members emphasised that they remain legally bound by the Constitutional Court's directives until a competent court orders otherwise.

ANC slams DA’s proposed GNU reshuffle as ‘populist, contradictory’

The ANC today launched a scathing attack on its coalition partner the DA, claiming its recent Cabinet reshuffle proposals expose “deep political contradictions and a selective respect” for South Africa's Constitution.

The political friction erupted following a request by DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis for President Cyril Ramaphosa to execute a reshuffle of the DA's team within the Government of National Unity.

Yesterday Hill-Lewis asked Ramaphosa to remove John Steenhuisen as Minister of Agriculture and replace him with Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Willie Aucamp.

Hill-Lewis requested that Ramaphosa move Steenhuisen to the role of Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition; David Maynier to the position of Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment; and Alexandra Abrahams to Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy.

Hill-Lewis also wants Yusuf Cassim to be appointed as Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, and Jack Bloom to take up the position of Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation.

The ANC countered the DA’s public announcement, reminding it that appointing and removing members of the national executive is the sole constitutional prerogative of the President.

The party stated that executive deployments are not subject to the directives of opposition parties, lobby groups, or coalition partners.

According to the ANC, by framing these internal deployment decisions as a direct expectation for presidential action, the DA is showing a “selective and opportunistic respect” for the Constitution.

And, floods inflict record R9bn damage on Cape

Recent flooding in South Africa’s Western Cape province, which includes the tourist hub of Cape Town, caused more than R9-billion of damage, a total that’s expected to rise once final assessments are completed.

Region’s finance minister said the infrastructure budget for this year is R10-billion and the cost of the storm damage means that the whole provincial budget will have to be re-prioritised.

Torrential rains that lashed the province last month inundated a number of informal settlements and at least 12 people lost their lives. At least 231 000 people were directly impacted by the inclement weather, and some 3 690 required temporary shelter, according to the provincial disaster management agency.

The Western Cape government will approach the national cabinet to free up at least R100-million in disaster funding that can be used to repair infrastructure, according to Premier Alan Winde.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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