For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Cameron Mackay.
Making headlines: Presidency announces independent inquiry to investigate claims that SA supplied arms to Russia, DA points to Russia funding ANC and calls for Modise's dismissal and, North West ANC councillors claim party expelled them for rejecting 'fraudster' candidate

Presidency announces independent inquiry to investigate claims that SA supplied arms to Russia

The Presidency said it was disappointed the US did not abide by an agreement to wait for the outcome of an investigation into why a Russian vessel docked at the Simon's Town naval base in Cape Town in December last year.

Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, released a much-awaited statement in the wake of claims by the US Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, that South Africa provided arms to Russia via the Lady R vessel.

Brigety said America was convinced that South Africa, despite the fact that it claims to take a non-aligned stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, had supplied arms to Vladimir Putin's army.

The Presidency said it noted Brigety's remarks "with concern".

Government has not denied the allegations and has instead hit back at the US for undermining “the spirit of cooperation and partnership”.

The Presidency has announced an inquiry into the matter, which will be headed by a retired judge.

DA points to Russia funding ANC and calls for Modise's dismissal

Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen argued that democracy is at stake when the ruling party "sells out the country to fund its election campaign".

Steenhuisen was referring to the latest headlines in which the US claimed that South Africa had provided Russia with weapons and ammunition.

Steenhuisen said that by secretly providing weapons to Russia, President Cyril Ramaphosa had betrayed the country’s democratic values and hopes for economic growth.

The party motivated for Defence Minister Thandi Modise to be fired.

Meanwhile, Organisation Undoing Tax Association CEO Wayne Duvenage said the lack of transparency from the government creates serious problems for the country.

AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel accused Ramaphosa and the African National Congress government of leading South Africa to economic suicide by “now making the war in Ukraine, South Africa’s war as well”.

North West ANC councillors claim party expelled them for rejecting 'fraudster' candidate

The five expelled ANC councillors from North West claim that the provincial executive committee unfairly dismissed them and alleged that the party's "real motive" was to prosecute them for rejecting the appointment of "fraudster" councillor Gotsilekgosi Batsi.

This comes after the councillors of Mamusa Local Municipality were expelled for allegedly voting with the opposition in North West and notified about it via a media statement issued on social media on Monday.

The councillors' representative, Tebogo Ramose, said the group was challenging the deployment of Batsi, whom they said had no honour and lacked moral integrity.

Ramose said that Batsi did not fit the necessary and specific criteria to qualify him for the position of municipality speaker, adding that he did not possess a matric certificate, nor had the requisite five years of experience in local government.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter [@PolityZA]