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

Making headlines: Speaker declines secret ballot voting for PP impeachment, Medium-term budget policy statement now expected a week later and, FUL condemns arrest of Zimbabwean lawyers

Speaker declines secret ballot voting for PP impeachment

National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has declined a request by the African Transformation Movement and the United Democratic Movement for a secret ballot vote in the impeachment of embattled Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane.

The vote will take place on September 11, followed by the vote to appoint current Deputy Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka to head the institution on September 21.

Mapisa-Nqakula believes that a closed voting procedure would deprive citizens from identifying their representatives' positions and hold them accountable.

The speaker emphasised the importance of following established democratic procedures and the equal voting rights of all members of the Assembly.

Medium-term budget policy statement now expected a week later

The medium-term budget policy statement will be tabled on 1 November, a week later than requested by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, the National Assembly Programme Committee decided. 

Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said that while she had received a letter from Godongwana requesting 25 October, this date might clash with other matters that Parliament is dealing with. 

The Inter-Parliamentary Union – an international organisation of national parliaments headquartered in Geneva – will hold its meetings in Luanda from 23 to 27 October. 

The date of the budget and the medium-term budget policy statement are usually set at the finance minister's request, but require concurrence from Parliament. 

FUL condemns arrest of Zimbabwean lawyers

Freedom Under Law Executive Officer Judith February has said the arrest of Zimbabwean lawyers Tapiwa Muchineripi and Douglas Coltart is an attack on the rule of law and is urging the relevant Zimbabwean authorities to stop the harassment and intimidation of lawyers.

The lawyers were arrested at a hospital and charged with obstructing the course of justice while representing members of the official opposition party in Zimbabwe.

Their clients were receiving medical care after an alleged abduction and torture. 

FUL has also welcomed the Johannesburg Society of Advocates’ statement which condemned the “arrest, detention, intimidation and harassment” of the lawyers.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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