Breakfast Edition: 31 July 2015
NKANDLA REPORT RUSHED: The DA on Thursday hinted that it would challenge Police Minister Nathi Nhleko's report in court after the ANC majority on the ad hoc parliamentary committee considering it, rejected calls by the opposition to call witnesses, including Public Protector Thuli Madonsela. The ANC easily voted down a proposal by Steve Swart from the African Christian Democratic Party that Madonsela be called to discuss her report on the R246 million upgrade of President Jacob Zuma's rural home, in the same manner that Police Minister Nathi Nhleko was given another chance this week to walk the committee through his conflicting report. This is how the ANC's Vincent Smith justified the move.
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DA NOT BACKING DOWN ON NKANDLA ISSUE: The DA is however not going to let the matter slide. The party-leader, Mmusi Maimane says the Public Protector's report on Nkandla - that estimated the spending so far to the president's private home at 246-million rand and also recommended the president pay back a portion of this - for non-security upgrades. The DA believes these findings are binding - but will await the findings of Appeals Court Judge Ashton Scheepers - who is considering just that at the moment. Here's the DA's Mabine Seabe.
MACIA COURT CASE CONTINUES: The High Court in Pretoria has heard that the cell commander at the police station where Mozambican taxi driver Mido Macia died, has falsely implicated one of the 9 police officers in the incident pertaining to his death. Constable Ramatlou was one of the last police officers to be implicated and arrested in the matter. Macia died in 2013, after he was dragged behind a police van through the streets of Daveyton in the East Rand. The Defence has told the court that Warrant Officer Mpumzi Ngamlana is the one who was solely responsible for cells on the day Macia died. Slindelo Masikane reports.
NUM & GOLD MINES RESUME TALKS: The National Union of Mineworkers say their members are still earning poverty wages. That's after the Chamber of Mines final increase offer of 6% - but also an allowance of a thousand rand for some workers. The NUM's Livhuwani Mamburu.
US PROBING CECIL KILLING: Further afield, US authorities launched an investigation into the killing of Zimbabwean lion, Cecil - as the American dentist who hunted the big cat remained in hiding amid mounting global outrage. Trophy hunter Walter Palmer killed Cecil the lion earlier this month after the animal was allegedly lured out of the Hwange National Park boundaries with a dead animal as bait. "The US Fish & Wildlife Service is now investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing of Cecil the lion.
ANOTHER AUSSIE FENDS OF JAWS: And, in Australia, a surfer this morning punched a shark after being attacked on the east coast. He suffered bite wounds to his legs and hands. The incident occurred near a popular tourist spot north of Sydney, close to where a body boarder was mauled this month, and recalled dramatic images weeks earlier from South Africa when Australian three-time world champion surfer Mick Fanning fought off a shark.
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