For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: Parly defends Speaker’s decision to block subpoenas of witnesses in Saps probe; South Africa and China sign trade and investment framework agreement; And, Jews for Palestine want S Africa to cut all ties with Israel after diplomat’s expulsion

Parly defends Speaker’s decision to block subpoenas of witnesses in Saps probe

Parliament has rubbished claims that National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza is protecting or shielding Paul O’Sullivan and Brian Mogotsi from appearing before the Ad Hoc Committee established to investigate allegations made by the South African Police Service’s KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Political parties have accused Didiza of shielding O’Sullivan and Mogotsi, after she declined to approve subpoenas for them.

Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said these assertions are incorrect and mischaracterise the Speaker’s role and the legal basis on which the decisions in question were taken.

Mothapo said Didiza’s decision was made after “careful and considered” assessment of the committee’s requests.

O’Sullivan offered to testify from a South African embassy but refused to appear in person, citing alleged death threats, while Mogotsi refused to appear unless Parliament funded a private security detail of his choice.

This after other witnesses testifying in the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Alleged Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System were assassinated or had attempts made on their lives.

South Africa and China sign trade and investment framework agreement

South Africa and China have signed a framework trade and investment agreement aimed at providing duty-free access to the Chinese market to more South African products and facilitating Chinese investment into South Africa.

The China-Africa Economic Partnership Agreement was signed in Beijing, in China, by South Africa’s Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau and his counterpart from the People’s Republic of China, Minister Wang Wentao.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition said in a statement that the agreement covered trade, investment and multilateral cooperation, as well as cooperation in the area of new energy.

The department said the agreement was intended to enhance the bilateral trade relationship, while creating safeguards to protect South Africa’s industrial capacity.

The signing would be followed by further negotiation and conclusion of an ‘Early Harvest Agreement’ by the end of March 2026.

And, Jews for Palestine want S Africa to cut all ties with Israel after diplomat’s expulsion

South African Jews for a Free Palestine today urged the South African government to immediately sever all diplomatic ties with Israel, alleging hypocrisy that undermines the country’s moral stance.

The SAJFP said while it commended the expulsion of Israel's top diplomat Ariel Seidman, it wanted the South African government to act with “full consistency and moral courage”.

Last week, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation declared Seidman persona non grata, ordering him to leave the country.

While the SAJFP supported Seidman’s expulsion, it said “hypocrisy” undermined South Africa’s moral stance.

The organisation argued that South Africa cannot credibly accuse Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice while fuelling its economy and its conflict with Palestine.

As a result, the SAJFP wants the government to impose an “immediate and comprehensive” embargo on all trade with Israel, beginning with the cessation of all coal exports.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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