Daily news update: Zuma Foundation demands Zondo’s removal, Life Esidimeni inquest, NPA drops murder charge against Thabo Bester

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Daily news update: 5 May

Zuma Foundation demands Ramaphosa removes Zondo as Chief Justice

The Jacob Zuma Foundation is challenging the appointment of Judge Raymond Zondo as Chief Justice and is demanding that President Cyril Ramaphosa reverse his decision to appoint him.

Ntanga Nkuhlu, attorney’s for the Zuma Foundation, issued a letter to Ramaphosa on Thursday raising a number of issues on the appointment of Zondo.  

Ramaphosa appointed Zondo as chief justice in March last year.

READ MORE: Zuma Foundation demands Ramaphosa removes Zondo as Chief Justice

Decision on ending Life Esidimeni contract was not made by Gauteng health dept – Mahlangu

Former Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu says the decision to terminate the health department’s contract with Life Esidimeni as a cost containment measure was not initiated by her.

Mahlangu appeared before the Life Esidimeni inquest in the High Court in Pretoria on Thursday, where she was cross-examined by Life Esidimeni legal representative advocate Harry van Bergen.

The former health MEC said it was the budget committee that made the decision to terminate the contract.

READ MORE: Decision on ending Life Esidimeni contract was not made by Gauteng health dept – Mahlangu

NPA drops murder charge against Thabo Bester, co-accused

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed it has dropped the murder charge in the case against Facebook rapist, Thabo Bester.

Bester, his lover doctor Nandipha Magudumana and her father Zolile Sekeleni had initially been charged with the murder of 31-year-old Katlego Bereng.

Bereng’s charred body was found in Bester’s prison cell at the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC) where he was serving a life sentence.

READ MORE: NPA drops murder charge against Thabo Bester, co-accused

‘It’s raining ad hoc committees’: Parliament at odds over monitoring electricity minister

The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) push for a parliamentary committee to conduct oversight over the electricity ministry has been met with opposition from the African National Congress (ANC).

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa’s appointment was at the centre of the National Assembly’s mini-debate on Thursday, where political parties responded to a draft resolution tabled by the DA.

The party has questioned whether there are adequate measures in place for Ramokgopa to account to the National Assembly.

READ MORE: Parliament at odds over monitoring electricity minister

NPA to appeal R24.9 million Nulane Investments discharge ruling

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has decided to challenge the acquittal of the accused in the R24.9 million Nulane Investments fraud and money laundering case.

Last month, five of the accused successfully applied for discharges in terms of Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act.

This resulted in the Bloemfontein High Court dropping the charges against them following the trial, which kicked off on 23 January this year.

READ MORE: NPA to appeal R24.9 million Nulane Investments discharge ruling

Search for new public protector: Parliament to discuss process of replacing Mkhwebane

Parliament is looking to start the process of finding a replacement for suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane as her term is set to end in October this year.

Parliament’s chairperson of committees Cedric Frolick revealed that the matter was discussed in the chief whips’ forum on Wednesday.

Frolick told the National Assembly’s programme committee on Thursday that political parties had two options to choose from.

READ MORE: Search for new public protector: Parliament to discuss process of replacing Mkhwebane

Former World Cup winner, Sharks legend hails Plumtree appointment

Former Sharks legend Mark Andrews has hailed the re-appointment of John Plumtree as Sharks head coach a master-stroke.

Plumtree, who coached the Sharks between 2007 and 2012 before leaving South Africa to work in Ireland, Japan and New Zealand, was on Thursday announced as the team’s new man in charge, taking over from Neil Powell.

Plumtree, who most recently worked under Ian Foster as an All Blacks assistant coach, will start in his new job on July 1.

READ MORE: Sharks legend hails Plumtree appointment