
WATCH LIVE: Zuma vs Ramaphosa ConCourt procedings
An intense battle is playing out in the Constitutional Court as the MK party and its leader, former president Jacob Zuma, challenge President Cyril Ramaphosa.
This follows Ramaphosa's decision to place Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu on special leave and appoint Wits law professor Feroz Cachalia as acting police minister.
Zuma said Ramaphosa 'openly dodges' the clear distinction between the power to appoint a minister and the different power to appoint an acting minister.
The apex court has agreed to hear the matter on Wednesday, 30 July.
WATCH: MK party vs President Ramaphosa in court
ALSO READ: Zuma takes on Ramaphosa in another ConCourt battle

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Herald
3 hours ago
- The Herald
Government announces start date for driving licence demerits
The government has confirmed that the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Amendment Act (Aarto) will be rolled out across the country in phases, starting on December 1. The national implementation of the long-delayed system was gazetted on Friday when President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the proclamation. The first phase will be rolled out on December 1 in 69 municipalities, with the remaining 144 municipalities to follow on April 1 2026. The demerit points system comes into effect countrywide on September 1 2026. The points demerit system is not operational yet anywhere in the country, including in Johannesburg and Tshwane where Aarto has been piloted for more than 12 years. Aarto is the government's plan to replace the existing criminal system with an administrative one. With Aarto, drivers will lose points for offences and face suspension or cancellation of their licences if they lose too many, in addition to any fine. The controversial act, originally passed into law in 1998, has been delayed numerous times and affected by legal disputes. In July 2023 the Constitutional Court ruled in favour of the government's plan to introduce a demerit system for traffic offenders, overturning an earlier high court ruling that had declared Aarto unconstitutional and invalid. The challenge was brought by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), an outspoken critic of Aarto which said the new system, rather than improving road safety, would impose an undue burden on motorists, especially those who rely on driving for their livelihoods. Outa and the AA both argued that the new law would make it easier for authorities to make money from traffic fines but won't rid the roads of dangerous drivers without proper enforcement, an area where traffic authorities have failed given the country's appalling road safety record. South Africa's road deaths average more than 10,000 a year and the cost of road crashes to the economy topped R1-trillion over the past seven years. The government maintains Aarto will be a vital tool in strengthening laws for road traffic compliance and making roads safer. It replaces the country's fragmented traffic enforcement, with different municipalities having their own bylaws. The core of Aarto is a demerit system where points are allocated for infringements, which will lead to driver's licence suspension or cancellation if too many points are accumulated. The act aims to streamline the process for adjudicating road traffic infringements by replacing courts with the Road Traffic Infringement Authority (RTIA), which is now responsible for managing the process. Aarto also allows for electronic service of notices and documents, establishing an appeals tribunal to hear appeals against decisions of the RTIA and removes the option of electing to be tried in court for an infringement. RTIA spokesperson Monde Mkalipi said: 'Aarto looks at promoting a culture of voluntary compliance, [where drivers] are ... mindful there will be consequences if they fail to change their behaviour. And these consequences are going to happen faster in that your licence will be suspended or taken away, and you'll not be able to drive.'

TimesLIVE
4 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Government announces start date for driving licence demerits
The government has confirmed that the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Amendment Act (Aarto) will be rolled out across the country in phases, starting on December 1. The national implementation of the long-delayed system was gazetted on Friday when President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the proclamation. The first phase will be rolled out on December 1 in 69 municipalities, with the remaining 144 municipalities to follow on April 1 2026. The demerit points system comes into effect countrywide on September 1 2026. The points demerit system is not operational yet anywhere in the country, including in Johannesburg and Tshwane where Aarto has been piloted for more than 12 years. Aarto is the government's plan to replace the existing criminal system with an administrative one. With Aarto, drivers will lose points for offences and face suspension or cancellation of their licences if they lose too many, in addition to any fine. The controversial act, originally passed into law in 1998, has been delayed numerous times and affected by legal disputes. In July 2023 the Constitutional Court ruled in favour of the government's plan to introduce a demerit system for traffic offenders, overturning an earlier high court ruling that had declared Aarto unconstitutional and invalid. The challenge was brought by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), an outspoken critic of Aarto which said the new system, rather than improving road safety, would impose an undue burden on motorists, especially those who rely on driving for their livelihoods. Outa and the AA both argued that the new law would make it easier for authorities to make money from traffic fines but won't rid the roads of dangerous drivers without proper enforcement, an area where traffic authorities have failed given the country's appalling road safety record. South Africa's road deaths average more than 10,000 a year and the cost of road crashes to the economy topped R1-trillion over the past seven years. The government maintains Aarto will be a vital tool in strengthening laws for road traffic compliance and making roads safer. It replaces the country's fragmented traffic enforcement, with different municipalities having their own bylaws. The core of Aarto is a demerit system where points are allocated for infringements, which will lead to driver's licence suspension or cancellation if too many points are accumulated. The act aims to streamline the process for adjudicating road traffic infringements by replacing courts with the Road Traffic Infringement Authority (RTIA), which is now responsible for managing the process. Aarto also allows for electronic service of notices and documents, establishing an appeals tribunal to hear appeals against decisions of the RTIA and removes the option of electing to be tried in court for an infringement. RTIA spokesperson Monde Mkalipi said: 'Aarto looks at promoting a culture of voluntary compliance, [where drivers] are ... mindful there will be consequences if they fail to change their behaviour. And these consequences are going to happen faster in that your licence will be suspended or taken away, and you'll not be able to drive.'


The South African
5 hours ago
- The South African
Donald Trump hits South Africa with 30% tariffs - the HIGHEST in Africa
US President Donald Trump has announced that South African goods will be hit with a 30% tariff starting on 7 August, in a move that threatens to derail one of the country's most critical trade relationships. The tariffs mark the highest imposed on any sub-Saharan African nation, and come amid increasingly strained diplomatic ties between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The decision is a major blow to South Africa, whose exports to the United States – its second-largest trading partner – are vital for industries such as automobiles, agriculture, textiles, and wine. Until now, these sectors had enjoyed duty-free access to the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). That arrangement, introduced in 2000 to boost African economic development through trade, now appears effectively terminated ahead of its scheduled review in September. In a sweeping move, the US has also imposed tariffs on other African nations: 30% for South Africa, Algeria, Libya for 25% for Tunisia for 15% for Nigeria, Ghana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe , Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d`Ivoire, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Uganda , Zambia for , , 10% for Kenya, Ethiopia Trump argues the tariffs are necessary to protect American jobs and industry, stating: 'African countries have had a free ride. It's time for fair trade.' President Ramaphosa responded by confirming that negotiations are ongoing, with a framework trade deal already submitted to US officials. That deal reportedly included: Purchasing US liquefied natural gas Easing poultry import rules $3.3 billion investment into US sectors like mining Ramaphosa also announced that a domestic support package is being finalised to help South African firms most vulnerable to the new tariffs. 'We are deeply concerned about the implications of this decision on jobs and investment. Our priority is to protect South African industries and workers,' the president said. Some exceptions have been made for strategic exports, including pharmaceuticals, copper, semiconductors, stainless steel scrap, and certain energy products. US-South Africa relations have sharply deteriorated under the Trump administration. The US president has cut all aid to the country and accused it of discriminating against its white minority – a claim South Africa has strongly denied. Ramaphosa's attempt to mend ties at a May meeting with Trump appears to have failed. This week, Trump hinted he might skip the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, saying: 'I've had a lot of problems with South Africa. They have some very bad policies.' South Africa's wine industry – with the US its fourth-largest export market – warned that the 30% tariff puts it at a 'severe disadvantage' compared to countries still enjoying lower or no duties. Industry body Wines of South Africa has urged both governments to resolve the issue swiftly, warning of long-term damage to trade, jobs, and investment. With just days to go before implementation, pressure is mounting on Pretoria to either strike a deal or cushion the blow – as businesses brace for a sharp economic impact and possible job losses. Afghanistan – 15% Algeria – 30% Angola – 15% Bangladesh – 20% Bolivia – 15% Bosnia and Herzegovina – 30% Botswana – 15% Brazil – 10% Brunei – 25% Cambodia – 19% Cameroon – 15% Chad – 15% Costa Rica – 15% Côte d`Ivoire – 15% Democratic Republic of the Congo – 15% Ecuador – 15% Equatorial Guinea – 15% Falkland Islands – 10% Fiji – 15% Ghana – 15% Guyana – 15% Iceland – 15% India – 25% Indonesia – 19% Iraq – 35% Israel – 15% Japan – 15% Jordan – 15% Kazakhstan – 25% Laos – 40% Lesotho – 15% Libya – 30% Liechtenstein – 15% Madagascar – 15% Malawi – 15% Malaysia – 19% Mauritius – 15% Moldova – 25% Mozambique – 15% Myanmar (Burma) – 40% Namibia – 15% Nauru – 15% New Zealand – 15% Nicaragua – 18% Nigeria – 15% North Macedonia – 15% Norway – 15% Pakistan – 19% Papua New Guinea – 15% Philippines – 19% Serbia – 35% South Africa – 30% South Korea – 15% Sri Lanka – 20% Switzerland – 39% Syria – 41% Taiwan – 20% Thailand – 19% Trinidad and Tobago – 15% Tunisia – 25% Turkey – 15% Uganda – 15% United Kingdom – 10% Vanuatu – 15% Venezuela – 15% Vietnam – 20% Zambia – 15% Zimbabwe – 15% 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.