Making headlines: Efforts for a joint conference failed says MKMVA; Zille suspended from DA activities; And, Davies unapologetic about Black Business Council funding

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

Efforts for a joint conference failed says MKMVA
The Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association will hold its national congress without a group of former generals and commissars, its leaders said yesterday.

MKMVA treasurer general Des van Rooyen told reporters in Johannesburg that all their efforts had definitely failed but added that there was no way in which their constitutional mandate to hold a successful conference could be stalled by that failure.

He was referring to attempts to get the group, which calls itself the MK council, to be part of the MKMVA's 5th national congress, which starts in Boksburg on Friday.

MKMVA chairperson Kebby Maphatsoe said the association would discuss the ANC's upcoming national policy conference and the second phase of the national democratic revolution, and elect new office bearers and a national executive.

The conference would take place with the guidance of 10 ANC national executive committee members.

Zille suspended from DA activities
Western Cape Premier Helen Zille has been suspended from Democratic Alliance activities for tweets she posted in March about colonialism, the party's Federal Executive said yesterday.

DA federal chairperson James Selfe said in a statement that the DA's highest decision making body decided by "an overwhelming majority" to officially suspend Zille until her disciplinary hearing is concluded.

Selfe yesterday said that the Federal Executive agreed that Zille’s social media commentary and public utterances in connection with colonialism breaks down public trust, stunts South Africa’s reconciliation imperative, and undermines their political project.

Davies unapologetic about Black Business Council funding
Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said in Parliament yesterday that he would not apologise for providing funding to the Black Business Council.

Davies was responding to a question asked by Dean MacPherson from the DA who wanted to know what processes his department followed when awarding R7-million to the organisation over a three-year period.

The minister said according to the Public Finance Management Act, National Treasury approved the Department of Trade and Industry’s transfer to the BBC to support its business development activities.

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today