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

Making headlines: DA submits motion of no confidence against Mapisa-Nqakula; IFP leader warns against mudslinging, says political maturity needed for free, fair elections; And, defence ministry says at least 23 Niger soldiers killed in ambush

DA submits motion of no confidence against Mapisa-Nqakula

The Democratic Alliance said today it will submit a formal motion of no confidence against National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to be debated and voted on before the House rises and before the expiration of the current term.

DA Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube said the party noted the ‘special leave’ announced by Mapisa-Nqakula, who faces allegations of corruption and money laundering, reportedly totalling over R4-million.

Mapisa-Nqakula has denied the allegations, calling them "baseless".

On Tuesday National Prosecuting Authority investigators raided Mapisa-Nqakula home as part of the corruption inquiry, but did not provide further details on the investigation or the corruption allegations. Mapisa-Nqakula has taken special leave from her role as Speaker while the investigation plays out.

On Friday, claims that Mapisa-Nqakula was arrested or handed herself in to police made its way across some news sites and social media. The NPA’s Investigating Directorate and Mapisa-Nqakula have both denied this.

Meanwhile, Gwarube said the DA will write to all political parties represented in Parliament urging them to support its motion for the removal of the Speaker.

IFP leader warns against mudslinging, says political maturity needed for free, fair elections

The Inkatha Freedom Party President Velenkosini Hlabisa said any suggestion of political violence must be dealt with to ensure that it does not mar a free and fair election.

Hlabisa was addressing the media on the KwaCeza incident and ensuing accusations, where he called on KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube to desist from “peddling baseless narratives” about the IFP.

He called for an investigation into the alleged assault of African National Congress supporters at KwaCeza in Nongoma, where President Cyril Ramaphosa and the AmaZulu King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini attended the commemoration of the 110th anniversary of the death King Dinuzulu ka Cetshwayo.

In response, Hlabisa said he requested information from the ANC on who the alleged IFP members were and in what way they were identified as IFP members, as this was not an IFP event, but a government event, and attendees were not wearing IFP regalia.

In contrast, IFP deputy President Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi denied that there are tensions between the IFP and the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal.

Speaking exclusively with Polity, Buthelezi said there is no evidence pointing to tensions and violence among the two parties.

And, defence ministry says at least 23 Niger soldiers killed in ambush

Militants killed at least 23 Nigerian soldiers and wounded 17 more during an attack on a military unit in the northwestern corner of the country on Wednesday, the defence ministry said.

More than 100 armed men on motorbikes and in vehicles used improvised explosive devices and suicide bombs to ambush the military unit as it was making its way back from an operation in the insurgency-hit Tillaberi region.

The attack took place between the communes of Teguey and Bankilare, the ministry said in a statement late on Thursday. Around 30 attackers were killed, it added.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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