Latest news with #Section172
The Citizen
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Gauteng High Court rules National Dialogue should continue
The Labour Party sought an urgent interim interdict to halt the National Dialogue which is set to commence on 15 August 2025. The Gauteng High Court sitting in Pretoria has dismissed the Labour Party's application to halt President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to convene a National Dialogue and two related conventions. Judge AJ de Vos handed down judgment in the application on Friday. 'Urgent interdict' The Labour Party sought an urgent interim interdict to halt the National Dialogue, which is set to commence on 15 August 2025. The party argued that the initiative is unlawful and unconstitutional. At the heart of its objections were the costs associated with the dialogue, arguing that it is not a genuine democratic exercise, but a costly and dangerous duplication of the national legislature. 'Lacking merit' Judge de Vos ruled the Labour Party's urgent application lacked merit, with no proof of unauthorised expenditure or irreparable harm. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa announces 'Eminent Persons Group' to guide national dialogue – These are the people appointed Application dismissed He said the Labour Party had not proven that the balance of convenience favours the granting of an interim interdict. 'In addition, it is not clear what relief the Labour Party would be able to obtain in due course. If it was so that the president was exercising powers he did not have, duplicating the work of Parliament and excluding sectors of society and spending more than R 700 million on such an unlawful endeavour, there would be no recourse that would undo that harm. 'Whilst the court ultimately rejected these findings – they were sufficient to show the Labour Party would not be able to obtain redress in due course. In these circumstances, the matter is urgent,' the court ruled. ALSO READ: Mbeki says issue of renewal of ANC 'not an invention' [VIDEO] Constitutional rights De Vos said the Labour Party asserted its constitutional rights. 'They litigated in the public interest. The litigation was not vexatious or frivolous, it was motivated by a concern of constitutional compliance. The state respondents accept that the application 'concerns a matter of significant public importance'. 'It affects a wide range of stakeholders and raises issues of national interest. In such circumstances, premised on the Biowatch principle, there should be no order as to costs,' De Vos ruled. De Vos said there was some dispute in the papers as to whether the Labour Party had relied on Section 172 in its papers. 'Assuming such a case has been made, the court declines to exercise its Section 172 jurisdiction for the reasons the court held that the Labour Party's prima facie rights are weak.' ALSO READ: 'What has gone wrong?' – Mbeki, Biko foundations call for national dialogue amid 'political crisis' Section 172 Section 172 of the South African constitution outlines the powers of courts when deciding constitutional matters. Specifically, it mandates that courts must declare laws or conduct inconsistent with the constitution invalid to the extent of the inconsistency and it allows courts to make any just and equitable order. Reaction In a statement, the National Dialogue communications subcommittee said the judgment reaffirms that the National Dialogue is a long-term, participatory process. 'It seeks to impact on and involve every part of our country, unleashing the energies and buy-in of every citizen and every sector – an assertion we have made since its inception. It is not a 'talk shop', as it aims to produce outcomes that are respected and adhered to by all sectors of society,' it said. 'The judgment further affirms the PTT's observation about the deliberate misinformation and disinformation about the Eminent Persons Group, the first national convention, scheduled for 15-17 August 2025 at Unisa and the National Dialogue. 'We would like to emphasise that the narrative surrounding the R700m budget for the National Dialogue is both misleading and unfortunate. As the Finance Minister advised the nation during his annual budget speech, the budgeting process for the National Dialogue is one of several items whose budgeting is still underway and shall be announced by him at the end of that process, the committee said. National Dialogue On 10 June 2025, Ramaphosa announced a National Dialogue – is a citizen-led, nationwide initiative to respond to South Africa's democratic challenges – supported by the government, national foundations and civil society. The dialogue aims to produce a shared national vision, accompanied by clear principles and develop a national compact and 30-year plan of action. ALSO READ: Clarity sought on alleged R700m cost of National Dialogue
South Wales Argus
02-05-2025
- South Wales Argus
WATCH: Police issue terrifying footage of South Wales car meets
Gwent Police's Operation Wheeler, led by the Roads Policing and Specialist Operations (RPSO) team, is aiming to highlight the dangers and deter people from organising and attending illegal events. The initiative has already resulted in multiple arrests and convictions. Footage released of illegal car meets in Newport (Image: Gwent Police) Between January 2020 and January 2025, 382 illegal car meets were reported, with 144 of these taking place last year. The operation, which began in July 2024, has already seen significant results. One person has been convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving following a collision at a car meet, and another is under investigation for dangerous driving after a collision in Newport. Other offences include fraudulently obtaining an insurance policy by failing to disclose modifications, and failing to identify drivers of vehicles that were driving dangerously. Three people have been arrested for causing public nuisance and aiding and abetting dangerous driving or motor racing, and all have been issued with a community protection warning relating to organising car meets. Four people have been arrested for dangerous driving, three of whom have been charged, while one remains under investigation. Four further community protection warnings have been issued relating to organising car meets. Eight insurance policies have been cancelled, eight vehicles seized, and 10 people charged to court for motor racing on public roads. Thirty Section 59 warnings, which are issued when vehicles are found to have been used to cause distress, alarm or annoyance, or used in an anti-social manner, have been issued. Thirty Traffic Offence Reports have been issued for Construction and Use offences, which concern the condition a vehicle is kept in or something that has been done to a vehicle which makes it unsafe. Forty-one Section 172 requests (Requirement to Provide Driver Details) have been issued, 16 of which failed to reply and have been summoned to court for failing to identify a driver. The team has also issued 52 Operation Wheeler warning letters, directed towards both organisers and attendees of these events. The letters outline the serious risks associated with street racing and dangerous driving and emphasise the potential consequences of engaging in such activities. Sergeant Mitchell Harris, who is the force lead for this operation, said: "Operation Wheeler is about tackling the dangers that can come from illegal car meets and street racing, from the impact on other road users to noise pollution and the links to other criminal activities they can have. "Illegal car meets are not just a nuisance; they pose serious risks to public safety and community wellbeing. "Our goal is simple – we want to put the brakes on illegal car meets, street racing, and anti-social and dangerous driving and we're working proactively with our partners to achieve this. "If you have any information about illegal car meets, report it. "By working together, we can help keep the roads of Gwent safe for everyone." Car meets and street racing can attract hundreds of people and vehicles at a time, and there has been an increase in reports of illegal car meets over the last five years across Gwent. Those attending park their vehicles in dangerous places and cause obstructions in the road to enable drag strip style racing to take place - with spectators lining the roads either side. Racing on the public highway and dangerous driving has been the cause of many serious and fatal road traffic collisions across the UK, and police say they will use all appropriate legal powers available to prevent the occurring. Officers are working closely with other local agencies, including councils on the initiative. To report illegal car meets and street racing, or anti-social and dangerous driving, call 101 or send police a direct message on Facebook or X. .
