For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: Ramaphosa attends 7th SACU Summit of Heads of State in Botswana, ANC Chief Whip elected to chair PAP Southern Caucus and, Parliamnent appoints investigator to probe sexual harassment claims involving EFF MPs and Protection Services

Ramaphosa attends 7th SACU Summit of Heads of State in Botswana

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday attend the seventh Southern African Customs Union Summit of Heads of State and Government in Gaborone, Botswana.

SACU Summits are held annually to discuss progress on the implementation of the agreed upon Work Programme. 

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya explained that the seventh Summit would consider progress made on the implementation of a refocused Work Programme that prioritized industrialisation through the development of regional value chains, regional financing mechanisms, trade facilitation and logistics, and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

Member States include the Republic of Botswana; the Kingdom of Eswatini; the Kingdom of Lesotho; the Republic of Namibia; and the Republic of South Africa. 

ANC Chief Whip elected to chair PAP Southern Caucus

The Pan-African Parliament has elected ANC Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina as Interim Chairperson of PAP’s Southern Region Caucus.

The fourth Ordinary Session of the PAP’s Fifth Parliament was halted in June last year when the Eastern and Western Caucuses ignored the African Union’s “principle of geographical rotation” when electing the leadership of its organs like the President.

Majodina will lead the Southern Caucus until the new Bureau and other organs of the PAP are elected during the Ordinary Session currently underway from June 28 to July 2.

National Council of Provinces Chairperson Amos Masondo said Majodina would play a critical role in coordinating the voice and aspirations of the region during this transition phase as the PAP elected the new Bureau.

Parliamnent appoints investigator to probe sexual harassment claims involving EFF MPs and Protection Services

Independent investigator Advocate Elizabeth Baloyi-Mere has been hired by Parliament to investigate claims of gender-based violence, sexual harassment and intimidation between Economic Freedom Fighters MPs and the Parliamentary Protection Services officials.

Earlier this month EFF deputy leader and chief whip Floyd Shivambu submitted a complaint calling on National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to conduct an investigation after EFF members were forcibly removed from the Parliamentary Chamber during the Presidency Budget Vote and the Reply to the Debate on the Budget Vote.

Baloyi-Mere has been tasked to complete the investigation in 14 days and to submit a written report within five working days to Mapisa-Nqakula.

The EFF alleges that its female MPs were inappropriately touched as they were removed from the parliamentary chamber.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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