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

Making headlines: Paul O’Sullivan to physically testify before Parly Saps committee; Dipak Patel appointed new deputy chair of Presidential Climate Commission; And, Ramaphosa says Sars is the 'standard-bearer for capable State'

Paul O’Sullivan to physically testify before Parly Saps committee

Forensic analyst Paul O’Sullivan will tomorrow physically appear to testify 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.

This after National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza refused to issue subpoenas for O’Sullivan and businessman Brown Mogotsi, urging for continued engagements.

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 parallel 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.

Last week, Didiza requested that the committee properly engage with the reasons given by both witnesses to testify remotely and show how those concerns were considered and addressed.

The Speaker wanted evidence of whether O’Sullivan’s application to appear virtually was formally tabled, and whether members considered his reasons, including his location abroad and security concerns.

Today, Didiza welcomes the Ad Hoc Committee’s continued engagement with Mogotsi and O’Sullivan, following her guidance that further substantive engagement be pursued before resorting to the issuing of summonses.

Dipak Patel appointed new deputy chair of Presidential Climate Commission

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Dipak Patel as deputy chairperson of the Presidential Climate Commission for a tenure running from 2026 to 2030 in line with the Climate Change Act.

In a statement, Ramaphosa said Patel’s appointment would strengthen the commission’s work on climate finance, investment mobilisation, and the delivery of South Africa’s just energy transition objectives.

Patel joined the Presidential Climate Commission in 2021 as head of climate finance and innovation, responsible for the portfolio of climate finance mapping, financing a just transition, and developing a strategy for financing South Africa's just transition and climate action interventions.

In January, he was among the 25 new commissioners appointed by the President.

Ramaphosa, who chairs the Presidential Climate Commission, appointed members of the inaugural commission in December 2020, with Valli Moosa as the inaugural deputy chairperson.

And, Ramaphosa says Sars is the 'standard-bearer for capable State'

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa today applauded the turnaround of the South African Revenue Service, saying its rebuilding illustrates the value of commissions of inquiry.

Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly letter to the nation that the commission of inquiry into Sars unearthed wrongdoing and proposed steps to ensure that there was no recurrence.

Last week, Ramaphosa visited the Sars National Command Centre in Tshwane to commend and congratulate its staff and leadership on their work.

In 2018, Ramaphosa appointed a commission of inquiry into Sars headed by Judge Robert Nugent.

He highlighted that when the commission began with its work, Sars was crippled by “political interference, leadership purges were commonplace, and specialist enforcement capacity had been substantially dismantled”.

Ramaphosa gave credit to Sars' leadership and staff for diligently implementing the commission’s recommendations.

He pointed out that in the last financial year, Sars achieved the highest revenue collection in the tax authority’s history, collecting R2.3-trillion.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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