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

Making headlines: Court sets aside Public Protector's findings on Ramaphosa's campaign funding; Gauteng health department enhances app to help with screenings; And, Senior prosecutor receives inquest docket on Enock Mpianzi case

Court sets aside Public Protector's findings on Ramaphosa's campaign funding

The North Gauteng High Court today in scathing terms set aside all findings made by Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane against President Cyril Ramaphosa relating to donations to his campaign for the leadership of the African National Congress in 2017.

A full bench of the court held that Mkhwebane had erred in law and exceeded the bounds of her mandate in an investigation that found Ramaphosa had misled Parliament about a donation of R500 000 and that had furthermore concluded there were prima facie indications of money-laundering and state capture in inflows to the campaign's coffers.

The court made a punitive cost order against Mkhwebane to signal its displeasure, ordering her not only to pay the President's legal fees, but those of the Speaker of Parliament and national director of public prosecutions, both of whom had challenged her instructions on remedial action against Ramaphosa.

The court said there was no indication that public money was involved in the CR campaign funding matter, therefore, the matter fell outside the mandate of her office. 

Gauteng health department enhances app to help with screenings

The Gauteng Health Department hopes the addition of a new icon to its mobile app, Mpilo, will help it in its fight against the coronavirus.

The enhancement to the app comes after it emerged that seven people tested positive for the virus in South Africa.

Health MEC Bandile Masuku announced the move today during a post State of the Province media briefing at the Gauteng legislature.

The platform, Mpilo: Healthcare in Your Hands, was launched in 2019 and is aimed at improving patient experience at public healthcare facilities.

And, Senior prosecutor receives inquest docket on Enock Mpianzi case

The senior prosecutor in Brits, in the North West, has received the inquest docket into the death of Parktown Boys' High School pupil Enock Mpianzi, according to Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane.

The docket was handed over after investigations into Mpianzi's death were completed, North West police spokesperson Colonel Adéle Myburgh said.

Mjonondwane said the contents of the docket were not known and that the prosecutor was waiting for a forensic report from the Gauteng Education Department.

Mpianzi, 13, was swept away in the Crocodile river at a Grade 8 orientation camp at Nyati Bush and River Break Lodge near Brits on 15 January. He was last seen when a makeshift raft he and other boys were on overturned just hours after they arrived at the camp.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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