A busy week awaits the country’s courts, with a number of high-profile cases due to be heard.
The Constitutional Court is on Tuesday expected to hear a matter involving the SA Commercial Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu) and Massmart Holdings, after Saccawu’s appeal against a labour court judgment was dismissed in 2024.
Massmart sued Saccawu for R9.4m for losses accrued by the retail giant after a wage strike turned violent at Makro in November 2021. The industrial action was called to demand better wages and conditions of employment.
Bidders for the lucrative R180bn licence to control the fourth national lottery licence will drag trade, industry & competition minister Parks Tau to court after his refusal to consent to a proposed draft court order to speed up the process.
Tau angered bidders when he put on hold a decision to award a permanent licence, opting instead to issue a request for proposal for a temporary 12-month licence — a move perceived by some as favouring the incumbent, Ithuba Holdings. About 18 entities initially bid for the eight-year licence, and eight were shortlisted.
The Pretoria high court is due on Monday to hear an application by the SA Revenue Service to attach the assets of former Prasa CEO Lucky Montana over a R45m tax debt.
The sexual harassment complaint against Eastern Cape judge president Selby Mbenenge at the judicial conduct tribunal will restart this week.
In January, the tribunal dealt with the testimony and cross-examination of the complainant, judges’ secretary Andiswa Mengo.
The tribunal is the first to investigate a judge facing sexual harassment allegations and, if found guilty, this could trigger a process for his impeachment.
Mengo accuses Mbenenge of making “unwarranted” sexual advances towards her at work and on WhatsApp conversations from June 2021 until November 2022.
Mbenenge’s lawyer, advocate Muzi Sikhakhane, argued experts would testify at the tribunal that Mengo consented to the sexual advances.
Meanwhile, parliament is set for a busy week, with a number of committee meetings lined up.
Deputy president Paul Mashatile is expected to answer questions at the National Council of Provinces on Thursday. This will be preceded by a debate in the National Assembly on Tuesday and questions to economic cluster ministers on Wednesday.
The department of basic education is to update the parliamentary committee on basic education on the case of a seven-year-old Matatiele girl, known as Cwecwe, who was allegedly raped at Bergview College while waiting for her transport to take her home in 2024. The National Prosecuting Authority has declined to prosecute, citing insufficient evidence.
The department of transport is to brief the transport portfolio committee on its strategic plan for 2025/26, with rail operator Prasa expected to present its corporate plan and budget for 2025/26.
The department of trade, industry & competition is to brief the parliamentary committee on the implementation of the steel and metal fabrication master plan.
On Wednesday, public works entities are to brief the portfolio committee on public works and infrastructure on their 2025/26 annual performance plans. These include the Independent Development Trust, Agrément SA, the Construction Industry Development Board and the Council for the Built Environment.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme is to update the higher education committee on resolving students’ appeals, funding decisions for the 2025 academic year, disbursement of funding and allowances for student accommodation and related matters.
Higher education minister Nobuhle Pamela Nkabane and her department of basic education counterpart Siviwe Gwarube, among others, are to address a four-day conference organised by the University of SA (Unisa) in Pretoria this week. The conference, from Monday to Thursday, brings together educators, researchers, policymakers, students and practitioners from around the globe to explore “revolutionising” higher education.
ActionSA president Herman Mashaba and other party leaders including chair Michael Beaumont, MP Lerato Ngobeni and Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya are on Wednesday to launch the party’s initiative to rewrite SA’s economic transformation agenda “towards real and lasting redress”.
The event, to be attended by business leaders, academics and civil society leaders will be held at the Apartheid Museum.
Update: May 4 2025
This story has been updated to include Eastern Cape judge president Selby Mbenenge’s tribunal hearings.
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