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

Making headlines: Hawks bare their claws as Busisiwe Mkhwebane's woes continue to mount; Ramaphosa calls on SA's business sector to support Africa's economic aspirations; And, DA terminates former Tshwane councillor's membership for leaking info to EFF

Hawks bare their claws as Busisiwe Mkhwebane's woes continue to mount

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, slammed Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane in a statement on Wednesday following remarks made by her yesterday.

Mkhwebane refused to give a warning statement to the Hawks, which is investigating a complaint of perjury against her.

Accountability Now laid criminal charges of perjury and defeating the ends of justice against Mkhwebane in August. It also lodged a maladministration complaint against her with the very office she heads. In August last year, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse also filed a charge of perjury against Mkhwebane. 

Speaking on Tuesday, the Public Protector said State institutions, including the Hawks, were being abused to "settle scores".

Ramaphosa calls on SA's business sector to support Africa's economic aspirations

President Cyril Ramaphosa in a statement on Tuesday has called upon South African business "to form part of the collective national effort to advance the interests of the country and continent". 

Speaking earlier at the South African Heads of Mission to African countries, he outlined South Africa’s priorities for its term at the helm of the African Union. 

These included economic integration across the continent and the operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the economic and financial inclusion of women and the fight against gender-based violence, as well as the promotion of good governance. 

In the meeting with business, the President welcomed the operationalisation of the AfCFTA in July 2020 as a historic moment and the start of a new era for the continent. 

DA terminates former Tshwane councillor's membership for leaking info to EFF

The Democratic Alliance’s (DA's) federal executive has upheld its federal legal commission's decision to boot out Gauteng MPL Nkele Molapo for leaking information to Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema.

Molapo, who was charged during her stint as a councillor in Tshwane, is accused of sending Malema a screenshot of an internal caucus discussion about a council sitting that was expected to discuss controversial then-city manager Moeketsi Mosola in 2018.

DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille confirmed that the recommendation to terminate Molapo's membership by the commission was upheld by the federal executive at the weekend.

Zille said Molapo’s membership was terminated for sending DA strategy directly to Malema.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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