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

Making headlines: Mashatile lauds positive start to inaugural GNU Clearing House meeting; DA submits PAIA application to force Lesufi to release forensic investigation reports; And, Kenya's Senate to vote on removal of deputy president

Mashatile lauds positive start to inaugural GNU Clearing House meeting

Deputy President Paul Mashatile said yesterday’s inaugural meeting of the Government of National Unity Clearing House Mechanism got off to a positive start.

The GNU Clearing House Mechanism was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa last month for the purposes of resolving policy disagreements within the 10-member GNU.

The Office of the Deputy President will serve as the Secretariat of the GNU Clearing House Mechanism.

Mashatile said next week’s GNU Clearing House Mechanism meeting, in Parliament, will finalise the draft Terms of Reference and receive reports on policy challenges, such as the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill.

He explained that specifically on the two clauses that the President has asked that they form part of the engagement with relevant parties.

The GNU Clearing House meeting will also receive reports on the preparations for a National Dialogue, and South Africa’s presidency of the G20 meeting to be hosted in the country next year.

DA submits PAIA application to force Lesufi to release forensic investigation reports

The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng has submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act application to force Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to release 177 Gauteng provincial government forensic investigation reports, following accusations the party made that he was shielding the corrupt in the province.

The DA said it had made multiple attempts, since 2019, to get Panyaza to make all completed forensic reports public.

Official Leader of the Opposition in Gauteng Solly Msimanga said his party demanded the original reports to assess the extent of alleged corruption within Gauteng government departments.

After studying the reports, the party will approach the Public Protector, the Auditor-General South Africa, and the Public Service Commission.

A DA government will immediately implement all the recommendations made in forensic reports once an investigation is completed, Msimanga said.

And, Kenya's Senate to vote on removal of deputy president

Kenya's Senate opened a second day of hearings today ahead of a vote on whether to remove Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office over charges he embezzled public funds, stirred ethnic hatred and undermined the government, which he denies.

The National Assembly voted last week to impeach Gachagua, who helped President William Ruto win an election two years ago but has been assailed by allies of the president over alleged disloyalty and a series of provocative public comments.

Ruto has not commented on the impeachment process, while Gachagua has called it a political lynching based on falsehoods.

If two-thirds of senators back the motion in a vote scheduled for this evening, Gachagua will become the first Kenyan president or deputy president forced from office by impeachment, a process introduced under the 2010 constitution.

The second day of hearings is scheduled to include hours of testimony by Gachagua, who will respond to a litany of accusations laid out yesterday by a lawmaker from Ruto's coalition.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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