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

Making headlines: DA submits application demanding CVs of judges considered to lead supply of arms to Russia inquiry; Regulator to check political parties' PAIA compliance; And, Ntshavheni says there is a 'false impression' that SA has adopted an anti-US stance

 

DA submits application demanding CVs of judges considered to lead supply of arms to Russia inquiry

The Democratic Alliance submitted a Promotion of Access to Information application to the presidency requesting information into how President Cyril Ramaphosa decided to appoint an independent inquiry into whether South Africa gave weapons to Russia.

This comes after US ambassador to South Africa last week made allegations that South Africa gave weapons and ammunition to Russia, which were loaded onto a ship that docked at Simon’s Town naval base in Cape Town.

The purpose of the PAIA application, according to the DA, is to request "a record of decision comprising the minutes of the meeting that informed the decision to institute the inquiry and record of any deliberations or consultations that the president made before a decision was taken to institute the inquiry".

The party also wants the records and minutes of all discussions Ramaphosa has had with the Minister of Defence and the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation and/ or with any officials within their respective departments in respect of the ambassador's allegations that South Africa provided weapons to Russia.

 

Regulator to check political parties' PAIA compliance

The Information Regulator of South Africa will today commence with a robust assessment of political parties’ compliance with the Promotion of Access to Information Act, with the first assessment to be conducted on the African Christian Democratic Party.

The Regulator said the assessment will be of all political parties represented in Parliament and will run from May 19 till June 7.

The assessments form part of the Regulator’s programme of action presented through its Annual Performance Plan 2023/24 to the Justice and Correctional Services Portfolio Committee.

The areas of compliance which would be assessed included the designation or delegation of Deputy Information Officers (DIOs), the registration of the Information Officer and DIOs with the Regulator, the development and availability of PAIA manuals, and creation and keeping of information relating to donations made to political parties as prescribed in Section 52A(1)(a) of PAIA and the PAIA Regulation 6(1).

The Regulator will also conduct on-site inspections at the offices of political parties. 

 

And, Ntshavheni says there is a 'false impression' that SA has adopted an anti-US stance

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has sought to restore the country's relations with the US as the fallout from last week’s bombshell allegations by US ambassador that South Africa supplied arms to Russia.

Delivering the State Security budget this morning, she said there is a false impression that is created that this government has adopted an anti-USA posture."

She said South African intelligence structures had cooperation agreements with the US in areas of intelligence sharing, training, cybersecurity, and counter-terrorism, among others.

Ntshavheni assured South Africans that genuine intelligence from South Africa or the USA in each other’s territories is shared through proper channels and at all material times. South Africans must remember that the US remains South Africa’s largest trading partner, and it values that relationship highly, she said.

 

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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