The unprecedented court battle between the ANC and suspended secretary-general Ace Magashule will be the highlight of the week as divisions within the governing party persist.
Magashule has launched a court application to challenge his suspension. The matter was initially scheduled to be heard during the first week of June, but was moved to June 24 and 25 partly because Magashule insisted that it be heard by a full bench.
Magashule is challenging the party’s decision to suspend him after he refused to voluntarily step aside in the wake of the corruption charges levelled against him. He also claims that the so-called step-aside rule was introduced to deal specifically with him.
In court papers filed in May, Magashule said that his suspension was also aimed at removing him to create a clear path for party president Cyril Ramaphosa to get a second term.
In court papers on behalf of the party, ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte dismissed his claims, and highlighted that there were several other ANC leaders who had been affected by the rule.
The infighting could further weaken the governing party ahead of the local government elections and disrupt the government’s response to the Covid-19-induced economic crisis, as well as the vaccination programme, which has been painfully slow amid a third wave of infections.
On Tuesday in parliament the National Council of Provinces will hold a question-and-answer session with the security cluster ministers. This cluster comprises of, among others, the ministers of international relations, state security, and home affairs. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the portfolio committee of health will hold virtual public hearings on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill. The proposed legislation will introduce far-reaching health reforms aimed at achieving the government’s ambition of providing universal health coverage. Its main aim is to launch an NHI Fund that will purchase health services on behalf of patients from public and private sector providers, which will be free at the point of care.
Parliament’s finance watchdog, the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa), and the standing committee on the auditor-general will on Tuesday receive a briefing from the auditor-general on the 2019/2020 Municipal Finance Management Act audit outcomes and the Covid-19 related expenditure at municipalities. The government’s response to the pandemic has been rocked by corruption allegations in recent months with various suspicious contracts flagged.
The select committee on trade and industry, economic development, small business development, tourism, employment and labour will be briefed by department of trade & industry officials on the masterplans for the automotive and poultry industries. The plans are broadly meant to stabilise and enhance the competitiveness of the industries.
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