For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Shomolekae.

Making headlines: EFF says Auditor-General being used as political weapon as DA alleges Ekurhuleni audit cover-up; DA to push for immediate investigation of Mashatile if Ramaphosa does not remove him; And GOOD suspends Peter de Villiers amid sexual assault allegations

EFF says Auditor-General being used as political weapon as DA alleges Ekurhuleni audit cover-up

The Economic Freedom Fighters has called into question the independence of the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa, saying the party is “dismayed” by “politicization” of the AGSA after it had allegedly failed to submit the Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality's 2022/23 audit report.

The Democratic Alliance, meanwhile, accused the EFF of hiding “adverse findings” in the Auditor-General’s draft report after noting that the Council Speaker had said no report was received from the Auditor-General.

As a result, it said the mayor was unable to table the report in Council, which the EFF called “political sabotage”.

However, the AGSA responded in a statement that it noted the “unfortunate and misleading” statements about the audit report.

The AGSA confirmed that it had completed the metro’s audit on time, however, the municipality’s management has raised a dispute with the national audit office regarding their audit outcome for the 2022/23 financial year, which caused the delay in tabling the report.

DA to push for immediate investigation of Mashatile if Ramaphosa does not remove him

The Democratic Alliance says should President Cyril Ramaphosa fail to announce the removal of Deputy President Paul Mashatile from his Cabinet in his State of the Nation Address, it will use collated information to lay criminal charges against Mashatile.

Today the DA handed over a dossier with an accompanying letter detailing damning allegations of corruption levelled against Mashatile, to Ramaphosa’s office at the Union Buildings.

DA leader John Steenhuisen said South Africa cannot be presided over by a Deputy President against whom corruption allegations are “piling up by the day”.

Steenhuisen noted that over the past few months, a series of explosive exposés had been published by numerous investigative journalists outlining the extent to which Mashatile is allegedly engaged in a web of corruption and State capture spanning almost two decades - behaviour that Steenhuisen says has become commonplace under the African National Congress.

Steenhuisen noted that the DA would also file an Executive Members’ Ethics Act complaint against Mashatile for his violation of the Executive Ethics Code.

And GOOD suspends Peter de Villiers amid sexual assault allegations

The GOOD party has announced the suspension of Drakenstein Councillor Peter de Villiers, following a complaint of sexual misconduct from a party member.

GOOD secretary-general and MP Brett Herron said its party’s constitution is unambiguous on gender relations and gender-based violence and that it applies to all members, regardless of position.

The party clarified that the former Springbok coach’s suspension from the party was not a finding of guilt, however it reflects the seriousness of the allegations.

The party said it would implement disciplinary processes to determine if the provisions of its constitution had been breached.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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