Commissioner of the Public Service Commission, Professor Somadoda Fikeni says public servants cannot be absolved from guilt when they implement unethical instructions from their superiors while interfering with operational processes SYNOPSIS: Patriotic Alliance deputy president, Kenny Kunene says he feels vindicated following an investigation that cleared him of wrongdoing. This is after Kunene was found at the house of murder accused Katiso Molefe during his arrest. Kunene says he was there to guide a young journalist who came to interview Molefe.

Member of Parliament and leader of the National Coloured Congress, Fadiel Adams, says General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's testimony against him was full of contradictions and that he is selective in how he places information. Adams says the Political Killings Task Team is costing taxpayers millions. Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane, says her department is assisting the Gauteng Province to deal with the issue of informal settlements and hijacked buildings. Simelane says they have made strides in reclaiming illegally occupied properties, including municipal and communal land. National Spokesperson for the Patriotic Alliance, Steve Motale, says they are confident that Kenny Kunene will be cleared of any wrongdoing in his 'relationship' with murder accused Katiso Molefe. Motale defended Kenny Kunene's Gauteng mayoral candidacy and says the Patriotic Alliance is quite confident in Kunene's abilities and track record within the party. Mayor of Mogalakwena Municipality, Ngoako Taueatsoala, says consequence management will be implemented to hold those implicated in the contract that was flagged by the SIU accountable. Taueatsoala says the SIU will open cases against some of the accused. For more news, visit sabcnews.com and #SABCNews on all Social Media platforms.

Crime detection deputy head Shadrack Sibiya's lawyer, Ian Levitt, says they will be putting attention into preparing for the Madlanga Commission following his failed urgent court bid to have his suspension lifted. Executive Manager: Business Turnaround and Recovery at Productivity SA , Justice Sefularo, says SA needs a GDP growth of 5% in order to make inroads for job creation. Sefularo says current interventions in place to recover and create jobs have been effective. Former Minister of International Relations, Dr Naledi Pandor, says the ANC needs to work to strengthen local government. Pandor says the world needs International law and multilateral institutions to guide the new world order. Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, Chris Nissen, says they would like to sit with Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to discuss solutions to the issue of illegal settlements across Gauteng. Nissen says Home Affairs and border management need to do their work to stop illegal immigration.

SAPS National Spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe says the political task team dockets will be submitted to the Madlanga Commission. Acting Police Minister, Professor Firoz Cachalia, and National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, agreed to submit the 121 dockets to the commission tasked with investigating criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system. Mathe says the national police commissioner has always been opposed to the disbandment of the political killings task team and has commended its work. ANC Limpopo Spokesperson, Jimmy Machaka has noted the decision by his party's provincial chairperson, Stanley Mathabatha to step aside. Mathabatha cited unethical behavior in the processes followed at the Vhembe and Waterberg Regional Conferences. Machaka says a task team was established to investigate the veracity of the allegations raised at the regional conferences. Machaka says the values of the ANC in Limpopo remain intact. The Director General at the Department of Social Development, Peter Netshipale, says the media reports surrounding a New York trip are out of context. Netshipale says the trip formed part of a bigger government delegation, and seven officials were sent by his department at a cost of R3 million. He says that about R600 000 was spent on the DDG alone. Netshipale has further denied that the suspension of the Department's Chief Director of Communications, Lumka Oliphant, was linked to the leaking of the information about the trip.

Policing and crime analyst, Dr. Chris de Kock, has welcomed the announcement to return over 100 case dockets to the SAPS political killings task team in Kwa-Zulu Natal. De Kock has expressed concern about the safety and integrity of the dockets while in transit. The dockets were allegedly taken under the instruction of the Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya and are in the process of being returned to the province. Minister Siviwe Gwarube says the National Education and Training Council will not duplicate the work of government but complement it. Gwarube says the council will focus on four priority areas, including reviewing the current school resourcing system. On the outstanding BELA regulations, Gwarube says there are no delays in implementation, and the remaining regulations will soon be released. Former SAT board member, Maija de Rijk-Uy,s has denied that the now dissolved board met on the 1st of August. De Rijk-Uys insists that Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille relied on factually inaccurate information to dissolve it. De Lille dissolved the board, alleging that it acted unlawfully.

Former President Kgalema Motlanthe says the US tariffs are not isolated to South Africa as many other countries have been affected. On cadre deployment, Motlanthe says the abuse and misuse of cadre deployment has led to the destruction and hollowing out of Public Service department. Motlanthe says SA has general lawlessness and people get away with it. On the ANC's renewal agenda, he says it must be tested practically beyond sloganeering. Motlanthe says he will vote for the ANC. Minister of International Relations and Cooperations says government still needs to act in the interest of South Africans and to not display egos when negotiating with the US. He says the loss of jobs from the tariff announcement could have been worse if it wasn't for South Africa's diversified economy.

Former SA Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool says SA is dealing with the US Geo-politics of supremacy. Rasool says there is deliberate efforts to mute SA's voice in the USA. 'SA needs to leverage its Geo-political strengths.' ANC national Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri says the developments in the USA are a threat to SA's national sovereignty. Says South Africa is not in a position to engage in a tit-for-tat with the US but should rather look at a bigger geo-political environment. KwaZulu-Natal premier Thamsanqa Ntuli says he will take appropriate action as soon as he receives reports on the matter to determine any wrongdoing. Former politician Roelf Meyer SA cannot afford to ignore the USA but says most Americans love South Africa as opposed to the minority. Government should keep engaging with the US to find a solution.

Spokesperson for the Department of Health, Foster Mohale, says the department is encouraging people to raise issues with illegal immigration through proper channels. He says the Department of Health cannot discriminate when it comes to access to health, according to the laws of South Africa. Operation Dudula President Zandile Dabula says illegal foreigners should only be treated for emergencies and deported afterwards. Operation Dudula says illegal immigrants are burdening scarce resources that should serve poor South Africans. Spokesperson for the family of 13-year-old Pretty Mahlangu, who was killed during a coming-of-age ceremony, Mzwandile Soyaya Mahlangu, says the family wants justice for the young girl. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says Gauteng province will cooperate with the commission of inquiry into police corruption and provide any information at their disposal.