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National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has hit out against United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa for publishing "untruths" about her arrest following allegations of corruption during her tenure as Minister of Defence.

Holomisa, on Friday, published a post on X alleging that Mapisa-Nqakula was arrested.

It is reported that Mapisa-Nqakula is suspected of receiving millions of rand in cash as bribes from a former military contractor when she was defence minister. She has denied the allegations, calling them "baseless".

On Tuesday National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) investigators raided Mapisa-Nqakula home as part of the corruption inquiry, but did not provide further details on the investigation or the corruption allegations. Mapisa-Nqakula has taken special leave from her role as Speaker while the investigation plays out.

On Friday, claims that Mapisa-Nqakula was arrested or handed herself in to police made its way across some news sites and social media.

"These reports are simply not true and a fabrication by Mr. Holomisa, who simply published these untruths without caring to verify the true facts or the harm that it does to the name of others. It is concerning that the media houses running with the story do not apply a better test to determine the veracity of rumours that they receive before publishing. This is a growing trend in South African media and the practice unfortunately not only undermines the rights of the victims of this gossip reporting but makes a mockery of the independence, integrity and professionalism of our media," she said in a statement.

She added that she has not interacted with the NPA since the home search on Tuesday and that she is taking court action against the operation and the way in which the search and seizure warrant was obtained.

She is asking the NPA for material information relating to her case, including the docket so that she can begin her defence.

"In her papers the Speaker urges the NPA to provide to her the details of the case against her as this seems to have already been given to the media, subjecting her to a trial by the media, without any means to defend herself against these public allegations," the Office of the Speaker said in a statement.

Three key Bills will be sent to President Cyril Ramaphosa for assent, as required by the Constitution, after the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) passed them during its plenary on Tuesday.

The National Council of Gender-based Violence (GBV) and Femicide Bill, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Amendment Bill and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Amendment Bill were passed by the NCOP.

The National Assembly (NA) passed all three Bills last year and sent them to the NCOP for concurrence.

Parliament noted that the National Council on GBV Bill seeks to establish the National Council on GBV and Femicide and aims to set up a multi-sectoral, independent, and non-partisan statutory body that provides strategic leadership to address GBV and femicide in South Africa.

It further provides for the objects and functions of the council, the appointment of the board of the council and its members, and it determines the board's term.

The NYDA Amendment Bill seeks to amend the NYDA Act of 2008 to address various issues related to the functions and governance of the NYDA.

Parliament highlighted that the Bill provides for additional NYDA board members and sets term limits for their tenure, also requiring that board members submit financial disclosures. The Bill also seeks to amend matters about board meetings and the funding of the agency.

"The passing of this Bill by the NCOP plenary today is an important step towards strengthening the NYDA and ensuring its effectiveness in addressing the needs of the country's youth," it added.

Meanwhile, the IPID Amendment Bill, which was introduced in Parliament by the Minister of Police in July last year, proposes amendments to the IPID Act.

The Bill emanates from the 2016 Constitutional Court ruling involving the suspension of then-IPID executive director Robert McBride.

"The Constitutional Court found that the IPID Act contained provisions that gave the Minister of Police excessive political powers, allowing undue influence over the executive director of IPID. The court found that the existing IPID Act contravened South Africa's constitutional principles, which call for the establishment of an independent police complaints body to investigate alleged misconduct or offences committed by members of the South African Police Service," explained Parliament.

It noted that the Act essentially allowed the Minister to suspend, discipline, or remove the executive director without parliamentary oversight, eroding the independence of IPID.

Meanwhile, the NCOP has considered the Expropriation Bill and resolved to send it back to the National Assembly with proposed amendments.

The Bill seeks to repeal the existing Expropriation Act of 1975 to provide a common framework to guide the processes and procedures for the expropriation of property by organs of State.

It further seeks to provide for certain instances where expropriation with no compensation may be appropriate in the public interest.

After some deliberation, the House resolved to send the Bill back to the National Assembly with proposed amendments for reconsideration.

South Africa's consumer inflation ticked up for the second month in a row in February, moving closer to the central bank's upper target, which economists say could mean a longer wait for rate cuts this year.

Headline consumer inflation rose to 5.6% year on year from 5.3% in January, Statistics South Africa data showed.

Key contributors to the annual inflation rate included food, housing, transport and miscellaneous goods and services, which include medical insurance, according to its report.

The South African Reserve Bank, which targets inflation of between 3% and 6%, will announce a monetary policy decision next week.

The higher inflation print was considered a surprise by some analysts, who said this could further delay interest rate cuts by the central bank.

"The news doesn't bode well for expectations of rate cuts in our local economy for the first half of 2024," said Shaun Murison, senior market analyst at IG.

A February poll showed the central bank is expected to wait until at least the third quarter of this year before announcing any rate cuts.

David Omojomolo, Africa Economist at Capital Economics, said the stronger-than-expected inflation number gave impetus to the central bank to hold until after the national elections on May 29.

"Officials will want to see some clarity in the make-up of the next government and the direction of fiscal policy before feeling comfortable lowering interest rates," Omojomolo said.

Core inflation, which excludes food and fuel prices, accelerated in February to 5.0% in annual terms from 4.6% in January.

Public servants are set to receive a 4.7% salary increase from April 1, according to Public Service and Administration Minister Noxolo Kiviet.

This will apply to non-senior management service members on salary levels 1-12 and Kiviet says this is in line with government's commitment to fair compensation and quality public services.

"The government prioritises fair and competitive compensation for public servants to attract and retain talented individuals dedicated to serving the nation. Considering the current economic climate and the need for fiscal discipline, the government will implement a 4.7% salary increment for public servants in 2024. This decision aligns with the commitment to affordable and accessible public services, while recognising the hard work and dedication of public servants," the department said.

Kiviet said government had struck a balance between the needs of public servants and delivering efficient services.

The Minister urged the continued delivery of quality services and expressed government's commitment to professionalising the public service through training investment and capacity building.

"The government appreciates the hard work of public servants and will continue to prioritise their well-being," she said.

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) research group leader in cybersecurity Dr Zubeida Dawood noted on Tuesday that the use of disinformation poses a serious threat to the upcoming elections, by manipulating public opinion and potentially influencing the election outcome.

Dawood was speaking during a CSIR media briefing on combatting fake news and misinformation during elections, where she said that it was crucial for voters to be vigilant and discerning in the face of potential manipulation.

She noted that social media played a significant role in the rapid spread of disinformation, owing to its wide user reach and viral nature, urging strengthened cybersecurity measures in advanced technologies to detect manipulated content.

She added that this could be possible through collaboration between government, technology companies, research institutes and universities, as well as resiliently working against disinformation.

University of Pretoria Data Science for Social Impact research group's Professor Vukosi Marivate noted that there were major changes in access to social media data, saying policies and regulation needed to be available to allow researchers access to the data.

He said social media and information dissemination was worth understanding and studying, particularly a need to study mis/disinformation on the African continent and understanding gaps in South Africa's current policy making.

Meanwhile, with the country's elections relying heavily on secure digital infrastructure, Dawood noted that CSIR's Mzansi advanced cybersecurity learning factory could empower the country's Independent Electoral Commission's (IEC's) workers and officials by equipping them with training on how to prevent phishing attacks and malware infections that can manipulate election data.

"…so building a skilled cybersecurity workforce is key, and the Mzansi advanced cybersecurity learning factory can cultivate a pool of cybersecurity professionals who can safeguard election systems against evolving threats," she said.

HUMAN-CENTRIC FRAMEWORK

She announced that the CSIR had developed a human-centric framework for detecting fake news, which she said would be available to the public soon.

She said the framework was still in its research stages, noting that it was important for researchers to package it in a way that average South Africans could consume it.

She highlighted that a human-centric framework fostered trust by engaging communities directly, encouraging dialogue and leveraging local knowledge to verify information.

"…once we get the work published in our articles we are working on creating more public consumption, probably in a month or two it will be out there for the public," she explained.

She highlighted that at the moment the framework was English-based, however, the CSIR was collaborating with colleagues from the University of Pretoria and University of Cape Town for natural language processing.

Dawood noted that the organisation recognised that technological tools may lack cultural nuance but human judgment can interpret information for diverse cultural backgrounds, ensuring accuracy in identifying misinformation.

Nineteen civil society groups are appealing that Parliament's Select Committee on Security and Justice reject the Electoral Matters Amendment Bill (EMAB), warning that if passed and signed into law it will weaken transparency and accountability in party funding legislation.

The contentious Bill was passed by the National Assembly and is now with the Select Committee to be voted on. If passed, it will go to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and then to the President to sign into law.

Civil society groups have written to the Select Committee, arguing that several of the Bill's proposed amendments are unconstitutional and that the public participation process was not adequate.

"If passed in its current form, amendments the Bill makes to the Political Party Funding Act (PPFA) will weaken transparency and accountability in our party funding legislation. While there is a legitimate need to amend certain pieces of legislation to bring independent candidates into the political fold, the attempts to fundamentally alter aspects of the PPFA are opportunistic and make it easier for all political parties to solicit private funding with less public scrutiny," the groups warn.

The Bill holds amendments that expand the President's powers in determining key limits in the PPFA, with no meaningful guidelines.

It gives the President sole discretion to determine the upper limit of donations made by private parties and the minimum amount required for political parties to disclose donations received from private parties.

The groups also noted the NCOP's reluctance to entertain further public participation on the electoral legislation, which it describes as one of the most important in South African history.

"We maintain that the question of whether the changes to the EMAB, from the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs process to the Select Committee on Security and Justice, are material or not has not been fully tested. The role of this Committee as a bulwark against political overreach cannot be overstated. The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs made a grave error in adopting the EMAB and we appeal to you to reject the Bill or to make the necessary amendments and return it to the National Assembly," the groups said.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has undertaken a search and seizure operation at the home of National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who has been accused of corrupt activities during her tenure as the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.

In a statement on Tuesday, Parliament confirmed the investigation and said Mapisa-Nqakula's commitment to public service with "honour and integrity" was unwavering.

It is alleged that Mapisa-Nqakula took bribes totalling R2.3-million from a South African National Defence Force contractor, and that she approved a 70% salary hike for the Secretary to Parliament Xolile George, raising his annual package from R2.6-million to R4.4-million.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) approached Parliament's Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests to ask for an investigation into the allegations.

"The Speaker steadfastly upholds her strong conviction of innocence, and reaffirms that she has nothing to hide. In line with this, she has welcomed investigators into her home, cooperating fully during the extensive search that lasted over five hours," Parliament said.

It added that Mapisa-Nqakula was "profoundly disturbed" by the allegations as it contradicts what she represents.

Parliament noted that Mapisa-Nqakula's diary and engagements in the National Assembly were disturbed as a result of the search.

Meanwhile, the DA is calling for Mapisa-Nqakula to step down as Speaker, in light of the investigation.

"Ultimately, as the head of the legislature in South Africa, the Speaker holds a position of great responsibility. The Rules of Parliament envision that the Speaker is someone who "upholds the dignity and good name of the House. Having one's home raided due to corruption allegations of this serious nature defy the very essence of this requirement by the Rules. To retain public trust in the institution, Mapisa-Nqakula must step down. She cannot be entrusted with this high office," said DA chief whip Siviwe Gwarube.

She added that the allegations raised doubts about Mapisa-Nqakula's ability to fill her role as Speaker and added that her presence in office undermined the integrity of the legislative institution.

President Cyril Ramaphosa pointed out on Monday that when citizens consider the deteriorating state of human rights and fundamental freedoms in many parts of the world, they are mindful of a moral responsibility to strive for human rights for everybody across the world.

Ramaphosa was writing to the nation in his weekly letter ahead of South Africa's Human Rights Day, on Thursday.

He recalled the Sharpeville Massacre of March 21, 1960, when apartheid police killed 69 unarmed protesters who were taking a stand against the apartheid pass laws.

"As we commemorate the tragic events that took place in Sharpeville in 1960, and recommit ourselves to the cause of human freedom, we stand firm in our position that human rights for only some are human rights for none. Let us all continue to advance and protect the human rights of all who live in South Africa," he highlighted.

Ramaphosa noted that over the past three decades, citizens have worked together to undo the terrible legacy of apartheid.

However, he said the effects of apartheid persist in health, educational and developmental outcomes, access to basic services and infrastructure, as well as in the racialised nature of poverty, unemployment, inequality and exclusion.

He said Human Rights Month is an opportunity to assess the progress citizens have made over the past three decades to advance the Bill of Rights set out in the country's Constitution, as well as to reflect honestly on where citizens have fallen short.

The results of Census 2022 released last year highlight the progress government has made in giving effect to the rights contained in the country's Constitution.

He said 30 years into South Africa's democracy, people continue to enjoy the shelter and protection of the Bill of Rights enshrined in the Constitution.

He said that the forebears who took up the struggle in defence of liberty and human rights at Sharpeville enjoyed no such protection, saying as a result of their struggles citizens now enjoy these rights.

"We have to stand together united as we work for the realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. We should not be in denial about our shortcomings and strive to overcome them with urgency," he said.

For millions of South Africans, lack of access to basic services, unemployment and lack of opportunity affect the most fundamental of human rights - the right to dignity, Ramaphosa said.

"As we continue to work towards realising the basic human rights of all South Africans, we are reminded that these rights are universal. That all people, everywhere, have basic rights and should be free to exercise them," he stated.

ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont noted on Monday that his party will advocate for the regulation of the polling industry, which he said operates with impunity albeit "enabled by the vital democratic institution of a free and independent media".

ActionSA has claimed that three media outlets published a poll on March 10 without any reference to the origin of the poll, following a previous instance in August.

"In both instances it is believed that the poll in question was a Democratic Alliance (DA) poll shared with these media institutions and, in turn, deliberately published without reference to the age-old question of cui bono - who benefits? The journalist goes as far as to confirm the poll was shared confidentially and that its origins are an institution with 'an excellent track record' in polling," Beaumont said.

He said in the instance of the most recent poll, the outcomes placed the DA at record levels of support, something he said appeared at odds with a party that had lost support in all demographics.

Further, the polls show that the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are growing prodigiously.

He said in the media publishing the poll, the DA benefited from the artificial illusion of growth from a poll, which they themselves supply, placing them at 19% in KZN (up from 13% in 2019) and 30% in Gauteng (up from 27% in 2019).

Beaumont said, similarly, the poll generated the narrative of "rooi gewaar" through "alarming" growing figures of MK and EFF support, which he added is a "favoured" campaign approach of the DA to animate its core support base.

Beaumont highlighted that this week the Brenthurst Foundation produced a poll which placed the DA's support at 27% (up from 20% in 2019).

Similarly, he said the poll painted the picture of surging MK support at 13% - adding that was a practical impossibility for a party whose support was almost entirely limited to KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Mpumalanga.

"However, like the other polls referenced, it is helpful to paint a narrative of DA growth and the useful stick to whip out the vote against the threat of a growing left alliance. The Brenthurst Foundation is the same body that paid for the DA Federal leader to travel to the Ukraine at the outbreak of the Russian invasion," he noted.

He said the consequence of polls could not be overestimated in South Africa where political momentum mattered, adding that this was why many countries had elected to regulate the polling industry.

He said polls in South Africa had no regulation and were open to abuse that appeared to be designed to influence electoral trends in South Africa.

He noted that while the party would file a complaint with the Press Ombudsman and a complaint with the Independent Electoral Commission - in terms of misinformation - it would push for regulations that did not currently exist in South Africa.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) wants all parties represented in Parliament to support its final two Private Member's Bills, part of the trilogy of its Coalition Bills, when they come to the House for a vote.

The party says its Coalition Bills aim to regulate coalitions in local governments, and the party wants them passed before the May election so that the country is prepared for possible provincial and national coalition governments.

The Bills were originally announced in October 2022.

DA Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube says once the country has a legislative framework for coalition governments, they will be held to account for any service delivery shortfalls.

The Bills hope to extend the time limit to appoint mayors and speakers, from 14 days to 30 days, to allow coalition partners more time to properly negotiate a successful coalition.

The Bills aim to insert an electoral threshold that would require parties to obtain a certain number of votes before they are able to qualify for seats in council. Also, if passed, the Bills will limit the number of motions of no confidence that can be brought against a mayor or speaker, to once in a twelve-month period - subject to certain exceptions thereafter.

Gwarube highlighted that the instability in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal is owing to coalitions that are bound by "gentlemen's agreements" and not by good governance principles that place residents at the heart of the governance agenda.

"Political instability is at the heart of this service delivery crisis and we cannot allow these doomsday coalitions and smaller parties to hold cities to ransom to receive powerful and lucrative positions," she says.

She says unstable coalition governments led by an African National Congress/Economic Freedom Fighters (ANC/EFF) partnership have led to unprecedented water shortages, with residents going days without any water in most parts of Johannesburg and eThekwini.

In eThekwini, a long series of infrastructure maintenance and service delivery failures, coupled with an illegal South African Municipal Workers Union strike, has plunged the City into paralysis, she states.

"These systemic service delivery issues have been caused and exacerbated with the coming to power of the ANC/EFF coalitions. Unless residents of these metropolitan areas are rescued from the coalitions of corruption, we will continue to see these cities plunge into even more chaos," Gwarube said.

DA'S FIVE-POINT INTERVENTION PLAN

The DA wants President Cyril Ramaphosa to urgently mobilise the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to make use of their logistical infrastructure and water tankers as a short-term measure for residents most affected by water losses, until the water crisis has been solved.

The party is also calling on local and provincial governments to set up and encourage public-private partnerships to collaboratively address water-shedding and leverage resources and expertise from both sectors to find sustainable solutions.

The DA also wants the South African Police Service (Saps) to establish a specialised investigating team to deal with and investigate sabotage contributing to the service delivery collapse and ensure they report back to the Portfolio Committee in the National Assembly on the progress made.

The DA will urge government to onboard and allocate funds to non-governmental organisations and non-profit organisations to provide support to the worst-affected water-shedding areas, ensuring assistance reaches those in dire need.