The Weekend View

The board of state-owned defence manufacturer Denel this week skipped a scheduled meeting with parliament's standing committee on public accounts - SCOPA - leading chairperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa threatening to summons the Denel board should it fail to appear at it next meeting. This is the latest in a string of instances that individuals, organisations and the executive have failed to account to parliament with no consequences. Last month ANC MP Mosebenzi Zwane failed to appear in House to apologise for State Capture malfeasance. It remains to be seen what, if any, steps the parliamentary joint ethics committee takes against other parliamentarians named in the Zondo Commission report as far back as March 2022. There are suggestions that the absence of standards of accountability and the fact that portfolio committees are not independent, are the reasons parliament is failing in its constitutional mandate to hold the executive accountable. Others say Parliament relies on the very Government  departments it oversees for information on which to base that oversight, and that public participation in some parliamentary committees is woefully inadequate leading to percepetions of an institution that appears to be sleeping on the job. 
Joining us for a discussion on this is Dr Ongama Mtimka, a political analyst from the Nelson Mandela  Univeristy and Brand reputation management advisor, Solly Moeng.

President Cyril Ramaphosa this week apologized to the people of Hammanskraal for government's failure to provide safe and clean quality water. He says in order for the crisis to be solved in the North of Tshwane, all three spheres of government need to co-operate and deal with the matter urgently. The President visited the area  on Thursday and spoke to community members at the Temba Stadium, following a visit to the Rooiwal water waste plant. At the same time Tshwane Mayor, Cilliers Brinks has also promised that they will hire competent people that are not interested in politics and are willing to do the job without fear or favour to resolve the Hammanskraal water situation. Residents are however not convinced that their water problems will be resolved anytime soon. We have on the line Baatseba Joseph, a resident of Hammanskraal. She is also a member of the Smanje Rider's Club who have been delivering clean water to some desperate residents

Condolences continue to pour in for the late former Bafana Bafana coach Clive Barker with many recalling the major contribution he made to South African football. Safa confirmed via a family statement that Barker died after a battle with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) YESTERDAY. He was 78. Barker led South Africa to their only continental triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in 1996, and also steered the side to a maiden World Cup appearance in France in 1998. We spoke to Mathews Mpete, Daily Sun sports editor .

 Some MPs say they are leaning toward the institution of an independent inquiry into the sale of SAA to the Takatso Consortium. This comes as now dismissed Public Enterprises DG, Kgathatso Tlhakudi, appeared before Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises earlier this week. Tlhakudi briefed MPs on his stance regarding the sale, alleging that there are various irregularities in the deal. Tlhakudi, requested an audience with the speaker who in turn referred the matter to the Public Enterprises Committee to deal with it. National Freedom Party MP Shaik Imam is among those vocal about the SAA/Takatso deal and is calling for an inquiry to unearth the facts. 

Sudan's warring sides have agreed to a nationwide ceasefire for 24 hours starting this morning to allow the unimpeded movement and delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout the country. The agreement marks the latest in several failed attempts to stop weeks of fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group. More than 1.4 million people have been driven from their homes within Sudan and 780 civilian deaths have been reported. The United Nations says aid that could reach about 2.2 million people had been delivered since late May but that some 25 million - more than half the population - are in desperate need of assistance. Leni Kinzli, is the Head of Communications for the World Food Programme in Sudan...

 Parliament's Section 194 committee will now no longer insist on hearing oral evidence from suspended Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane. In the face of a stalemate because of problems with Mkhwebane's legal representation, committee chairperson Qubudile Dyantyi has now instructed committee members and evidence leaders to present their questions to her in writing. She will then have the opportunity to also answer in writing or, if she wishes to answer orally, she will be allowed to do so. 
For more on this we spoke to  Advocate Romeo Nthambeleni, Senior Legal Analyst member of the Legal Practice Council of South Africa...

The convocation of the University of Fort Hare wants an independent investigation into the allegations of academic fraud at the institution. The call comes as the SIU is still engaged with its investigation into maladministration and fraud at the university including the alleged academic fraud. The convocation met yesterday to discuss issues that include allegations of cheating, procurement corruption, violence, damage to property where twelve students recently arrested for alleged malicious damage to property and burglary. We had a chat with the Spokesperson of the University's Convocation team, Luthando Bara

While some organisations are welcoming Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi's extension of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit - ZEP - dispensation, others are worried that  it could lead to further unrest in  some communities and in the road freight sector.  The special dispensation was due to end on the 30th of June - but has been extended to the 31st of December.  The ZEP is a special permit issued in terms of the Immigration Act that allows its holders and their children temporary legal status to live, work and study in South Africa. To look at the legal consequences of the minister's decision we we spoke to Bianca Rutherfoord-Jones, Immigration Specialist from law firm, Webber Wentzel 

Thousands of runners are ready and raring to go in tomorrow's Comrades  ultra-marathon. The 96th edition of the Comrades will be an 87.7 kilometres down run from the KwaZulu-Natal capital, Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Four-thousand 430 of them are first time qualifiers and in total 17 thousand-920 runners are participating this year. Among them is Stanely Mwawa who is running with the SABC Atheletics Club. He spoke to us from Pietermaritzburg.

The protection of young children remains one of the high priorities in our country's constitution but also in our various communities. Today, 4th June marks end of  Child Protection Week 2023. For more on what has been achieved in this year's Child Protection Week and the strides made to improve the lives of needy children in the country and some of the challenges that still exist. We spoke to Child Line CEO, Dumisile Nala...