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

Making headlines: Ramaphosa undertakes State visit to Qatar; ActionSA’s Mncwango promises to restore ethical leadership in KZN; And Ramaphosa denies putting judicial independence at risk by appointing judge to investigate Lady R

Ramaphosa undertakes State visit to Qatar

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday undertake his first State visit to Qatar, at the invitation of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar.

The two-day visit comes ahead of the 30-year anniversary of diplomatic relations between both countries, which is May 11.

The Presidency highlighted that during the meeting, Ramaphosa and Al Thani are expected to deliberate on various geopolitical issues that are currently impacting the world.

Both parties are committed to enhancing their economic ties and focusing on improving economic relations including trade, investment, and tourism.

Ramaphosa will be accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor; Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel; Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza; Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe; Minister of Defence Thandi Modise, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga and the Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.

ActionSA’s Mncwango promises to restore ethical leadership in KZN

Zwakele Mncwango has accepted his party’s nomination for KwaZulu-Natal Premier and promised that ActionSA will restore good governance and appoint leaders with integrity.

Party founder and leader Herman Mashaba announced Mncwango’s candidacy in Durban today.

A former Democratic Alliance member, Mncwango said ActionSA will implement proper vetting in government, including lifestyle audits of all politicians and municipal and government officials.

He said to Mashaba that if he is found to have committed any wrongdoing, the ActionSA leader can “take me out”.

He promised that ActionSA would remain transparent and effective and more accountable to the people while following the rule of law.

He also promised that commission of inquiry recommendations will be implemented under an ActionSA leadership.

And Ramaphosa denies putting judicial independence at risk by appointing judge to investigate Lady R

President Cyril Ramaphosa has denied his appointment of a retired judge to investigate the docking of the sanctioned Russian cargo vessel Lady R in Simon's Town threatened to entangle the judiciary "in matters of political controversy" and posed a risk to its independence.

Ramaphosa said there is no risk of judicial entanglement in matters of political controversy, Ramaphosa states in papers filed in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, in response to a Democratic Alliance legal challenge to his appointment of retired Judge Phineas Mojapelo to head the Lady R investigative panel.

Mojapelo and his panel were appointed to investigate the docking of the sanctioned Lady R vessel at Simon’s Town in December last year, after United States ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, said he would "bet his life" that weapons destined for Russia had been loaded onto it.

During a press conference in May, he said the US had "proof" of this.

Advocate Leah Gcabashe, and former deputy minister of basic education Enver Surty were the remaining panel members.

While acknowledging that he could have appointed a commission of inquiry to investigate the Lady R docking, Ramaphosa is adamant "this would have not been appropriate in the circumstances".

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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