
Tshwane Speaker survives a motion of no confidence
The DA brought forward the motion against the African Transformation Movement (ATM) councillor, claiming he lacked impartiality.
The speaker of Tshwane Council Mncedi Ndzwanana during the Tshwane Council Meeting on July 25, 2024 in Pretoria, South Africa. Photo by Gallo Images/Beeld/Deaan Vivier
Tshwane Speaker of Council Mncedi Ndzwanana has survived a motion of no confidence.
The DA brought forward the motion against the African Transformation Movement (ATM) councillor, claiming he lacked impartiality.
The party lacked the numbers to pass the motion itself, but hoped to convince others in the Council.
Despite its Speaker of Council being voted out in Johannesburg just hours earlier, thanks in part to the ANC, ActionSA voted with the ANC to dismiss the motion.
ActionSA Gauteng provincial chairperson Funzi Ngobeni earlier said the DA's motion was a 'desperate' attempt to destabilise the city.
'This motion is not about principle; it is about fear. Fear of a coalition that is delivering. Fear of exposure. Fear of becoming irrelevant to a public that is starting to see what good governance can look like,' Ngobeni said.
This is a developing story
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The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Cyril Ramaphosa vs John Steenhuisen: Who's RIGHT over Andrew Whitfield axing?
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These rules and established practices were expressly communicated to all members of the Executive during the induction sessions at the commencement of the 7th administration,' he said. The President said the rules and practices 'were repeated in Cabinet in March this year by me as President'. 'All international travel by members of the executive must always be undertaken with the express permission of the President. This practice is rigorously observed and adhered to by all members of the Executive. However, Mr Whitfield deliberately chose to violate this rule and practice,' President Ramaphosa said. The President confirmed that prior to Whitfield's removal, he spoke to Democratic Alliance (DA) and fellow Government of National Unity (GNU) party leader, John Steenhuisen about his removal and 'I expect him to present to me for approval a replacement for Mr Whitfield from his party as the DA is entitled to a Deputy Minister as agreed'. 'In that discussion, Mr Steenhuisen informed me that Mr Whitfield had been expecting that he may be dismissed on the grounds that he had undertaken an international trip without the President's permission. 'This expectation, along with a perfunctory letter of apology that Mr Whitfield wrote to me following his travel to the USA without the required permission, indicated that he was aware that his actions had violated the rules and established practices governing the conduct of Members of the Executive,' he said. The President emphasised that previous Presidents had undertaken to remove ministers and deputy ministers before. 'During my discussion with Mr Steenhuisen, he asked me if there was precedent for the action that I intended to take in relation to Mr Whitfield. I informed him that there was indeed prior precedent. 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'It is unprecedented in the history of our democracy that the exercise by the President of his constitutional prerogative and responsibility with respect to a clear violation of rules and established practices governing the conduct of Members of the Executive has met with such irresponsible and unjustifiable threats and ultimatums from a member of the executive. 'Let it be clear that the President shall not yield to threats and ultimatums, especially coming from members of the Executive that he has the prerogative to appoint in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,' President Cyril Ramaphosa said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.


The Citizen
17 hours ago
- The Citizen
Weekly economic wrap: Oil and rand on political seesaw
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Goldman Sachs warned that Brent could surge to $110/barrel if Middle East disruptions escalate.' In addition, she points out that the gold price moderated to $3,383.80/ounce, reaching a four-week low, as the Israel-Iran ceasefire appears to be holding and reduced safe haven demand. However, she says, lingering trade tensions and Fed rate cut expectations are still providing some support. ALSO READ: Disturbing survey reveals borrowing now a lifeline in SA Producer price index slows to 0.1% in May Headline factory-gate inflation, measured by the Producer Price Index (PPI) for final manufactured goods, slowed to 0.1% in May 2025 from 0.5% in April. Lebohang Namo, economist at the BER, says this was the lowest reading since November 2024. Food, beverages and tobacco products were the largest contributor (3.7%), while basic and fabricated metals (-12.3%) and chemicals, rubber and plastic products (-1.4%) were the largest detractors. On a monthly basis, PPI fell by 0.3% from 0.5% in April. 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Eyewitness News
19 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Axed deputy DTIC minister, Whitfield, says he was sidelined by Tau for last 6 months
JOHANNESBURG - Fired deputy minister of trade and industry, Andrew Whitfield, said that he had spent the past six months being sidelined by Minister Parks Tau. Whitfield, who said that he received no reason for his axing by President Cyril Ramaphosa, insisted that he acted in good faith during his time in government. He told 702 that he assumed he was fired because of a trip he took to Washington on behalf of his political party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), in March. Whitfield said that he had never undermined the minister. "I have objected and opposed to a number of issues. I have done that discreetly within the department, in fact through writing to the minister, whether it's on the legal sector codes, the broad-based economic empowerment legal sector codes, whether it's the Transformation Fund or a range of other issues around governance, board appointments, cadre deployments, you name it." Whitfield's political party argued that he was fired for succeeding at his job, which included opposing some appointments, halting what they claim would have been looting from the Transformation Fund and keeping an eye on the national lottery tender. Whitfield said that he still had questions about some of the processes that had unfolded. "And so the minister included me at the end of last year and I was then sidelined for the last six months. So, I have had no line of sight of the process, but certainly have had some questions, which I would like to pose to the minister if given the opportunity, which I have not yet had."