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

Making headlines: NPA won’t prosecute in Phala Phala case; DA says it will not agree to implementation of NHI, BELA Act, as it reflects on 100 days in office; And, Kenya court refers deputy president's impeachment case to chief justice

NPA won’t prosecute in Phala Phala case

The Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo, advocate Mukhali Ivy Thenga has said that there is no reasonable prospect of a successful prosecution in the Phala Phala case, based on evidence contained in the docket, and so the National Prosecuting Authority will not seek to prosecute anybody in the case.

She said this came after a careful assessment of all the evidence presented to the prosecutors by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation.

Former spy boss Arthur Fraser in June 2022 laid criminal charges against President Cyril Ramaphosa over the 2020 break-in, on the Phala Phala Farm, in Bela Bela, in Limpopo, which was alleged to have involved significant amounts of foreign currency.

Thenga pointed out that the investigations also covered any possible contravention of the Income Tax Act and Exchange Control Regulation.

Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters said while it was dismayed by the NPA’s decision not to pursue prosecutions in the matter, it was not surprised by the decision, claiming that the NPA was shielding Ramaphosa from accountability.

The DA said it will refer the NPA to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development to explain its decision.

DA says it will not agree to implementation of NHI, BELA Act, as it reflects on 100 days in office

DA leader John Steenhuisen says his party will not, “under any circumstances”, agree to the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme and clauses 4 and 5 of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, as he announced key medium-term priorities for the party in the Government of National Unity.

In marking the GNU’s first 100 days in office, Steenhuisen spoke to the media in Johannesburg, today, where he said that parts of the BELA Act, in its current form, would deprive children of mother-tongue education in single medium schools, and said that the NHI would bankrupt South Africa “without improving healthcare or health outcomes”.

Despite some public rejection, and concern over the BELA Bill’s constitutionality, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed it into law, however, he placed on hold clauses 4 and 5 of the Bill for three months to find solutions to the concerns around them.

Should no solutions be found, the Bill will be implemented fully, he said.

Steenhuisen said the DA was clear about BELA, from the beginning of its GNU negotiations.

He said his party would not form part of a government where clauses of the Constitution would be violated.

Kenya court refers deputy president's impeachment case to chief justice

Kenya's high court ruled today that a case challenging Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's impeachment should be referred to the Chief Justice for further direction.

Kenya's parliament voted on Tuesday to impeach Gachagua on 11 charges including enriching himself and stirring ethnic hatred. The deputy president denied all the allegations and said the case was absurd.

The Senate will next week debate the charges and vote whether to dismiss him.

Justice Lawrence Mugambi said public interest in the case required the creation of a panel of judges to examine Gachagua's petition.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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