For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost. Making headlines: Eskom celebrates 100 days without loadshedding; CDE says bloated Cabinet needs to agree on priorities, agenda for deepened economic reform; And, South Africa inflation expectations dip before rate decision Eskom celebrates 100 days without loadshedding State-owned power utility Eskom has achieved 100 consecutive days without loadshedding, which reflects the enhanced reliability and performance of its generation fleet. The continuous suspension of loadshedding has been achieved against a backdrop of a significant decrease in the use of open-cycle gas turbines to supplement generation capacity. Eskom Group CE Dan Marokane said the 100 days milestone includes around a R6.2-billion reduction in open-cycle gas turbines diesel expenditure from April 1 to June 30, compared to the same period last year and, if we maintain our trajectory on reduced diesel spend, it will be a strong driver in a possible return to profit in the 2025 financial year. This accomplishment is the result of its multi-dimensional generation operational recovery plan, started in March 2023, and aggressive planned maintenance. These were made possible by financial support from the National Treasury Eskom debt relief scheme. CDE says bloated Cabinet needs to agree on priorities, agenda for deepened economic reform The Centre for Development and Enterprise said today the centre of government needs to be streamlined with more effective processes feeding into Cabinet to ensure better decision-making. Crucially, only the best people should be appointed to senior positions in the public service and in entities such as Eskom and Transnet, stressed CDE executive director Ann Bernstein. On Sunday President Cyril Ramaphosa announced his new Cabinet after forming a government of national unity, announcing a high number of Ministers and Deputy Ministers. Ramaphosa added two Ministers and seven Deputy Ministers, increasing the Cabinet size to 75. It is the largest Cabinet the country has ever had. Bernstein said it was unfortunate that Ramaphosa went for an even bigger Cabinet than the enormous ones of previous administrations. She said big Cabinets are difficult to manage, slow to make decisions, hard to hold accountable and less likely to commit to a clear set of reforms on which there is no back-tracking. She advised that the incumbents in some 130 mission-critical posts should all reapply for their jobs and, where individuals were not the best possible candidates for these jobs, they should be replaced. And, South Africa inflation expectations dip before rate decision South African inflation expectations for the next two years declined, signalling progress in the central bank’s efforts to rein them in before its policy meeting later this month. Average inflation expectations two years ahead — which the bank’s monetary policy committee uses to inform its decision-making — fell to 4.9% in the second quarter from 5.2% previously, according to a survey released today by the Stellenbosch-based Bureau for Economic Research. All social groups including analysts, businesspeople, and labour officials lowered their inflation forecasts for the entire three-year horizon Bureau for Economic Research surveys, it said. On average, they now anticipate inflation of 5.3% in 2024, 5% in 2025, and 4.9% in 2026. Their five-year inflation forecast fell below 5% to 4.9% for the first time since the fourth quarter of 2021. The drop will help ease concerns expressed by the monetary policy committee at its last meeting that inflation expectations remain above the 4.5% midpoint of the bank’s target range, where it prefers to anchor them. The reading, coupled with easing inflation pressures, may pave the way for interest rates to be lowered later this year. For now, however, analysts expect the monetary policy committee will leave the key interest rate at 8.25% for a seventh straight meeting on ...

July 04, 2024. For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost. Making headlines: DA says it refused to be ‘co-opted’ into Gauteng govt by ANC GOOD Party says it did not vote for R200 Joburg Electricity Tariff And, More than 136 000 displaced by spread of war in southeast Sudan DA says it refused to be ‘co-opted’ into Gauteng govt by ANC The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng said it was impossible for it to be co-opted into government by the African National Congress, noting that the coalition parties are meant to be power sharing partners. The leader of the DA in Gauteng Solly Msimanga explained that after robust negotiations with the ANC, they had decided to decline to take up seats on the ANC’s terms. The ANC wanted to give the DA three MEC positions but they declined, hoping for four. Msimanga stated that negotiations were meant to be principle-based, as per the Statement of Intent that the ANC and the DA signed on a national level. On Wednesday, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the ANC’s stance was to separate national negotiations and agreements from provincial ones. GOOD Party says it did not vote for R200 Joburg Electricity Tariff In the wake of the controversy surrounding the new electricity surcharge of R200 for prepaid customers in Johannesburg, the GOOD Party has slammed parties and organisations that accused it of voting for the tariff. GOOD stressed its opposition to the surcharge and said it was not present during the Council budget vote as it had a vacancy following the firing of its former councillor Lloyd Phillips. It hit back against ActionSA, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse and the Sowetan newspaper for “spreading false information”. In a statement on Thursday, City of Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda said the new surcharge was a necessary intervention to create fairness and equality in the municipality’s tariff regime. He also condemned “any attempt to sabotage this critical intervention” and likened it to an attempt to deliberately collapse the City’s infrastructure. More than 136 000 displaced by spread of war in southeast Sudan More than 136 000 people have fled Sudan's southeastern Sennar state since the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces began a series of attacks on towns, the United Nations said, the latest wave of displacement caused by Sudan's almost 15-month long war. They join nearly 10-million people driven from their homes since war broke out between the RSF and the regular army. The war has sparked accusations of "ethnic cleansing" and warnings of famine, mainly in RSF-controlled areas across the country. The RSF on June 24 began a campaign to seize the city of Sennar, a trading hub, but quickly turned to the smaller towns of Sinjah and al-Dinder, prompting an exodus of civilians from all three, mainly to neighbouring al-Gedaref and Blue Nile states. The UN's International Organization for Migration said in a statement that since June 24, an estimated total of 136 130 people had been displaced in Sennar. That’s a roundup of news making headlines today Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost. Making headlines: SACP calls for speedy resolution to impasse on Gauteng cabinet; Ramaphosa, Biden commit to advancing ‘special relationship’ between countries; And, Lawmakers revive Spending Bill under new government SACP calls for speedy resolution to impasse on Gauteng cabinet The Gauteng South African Communist Party provincial executive committee wants a speedy resolution of the current impasse in finalising the provincial government cabinet. The PEC noted with concern the ongoing impasse that has delayed the announcement of the cabinet, saying it creates an impression of a province in a state of paralysis and under siege. The announcement of the Gauteng provincial cabinet was postponed for the second time on Monday night after African National Congress provincial leaders were instructed by Luthuli House to postpone it. This as the ANC and Democratic Alliance in Gauteng failed to reach an agreement on posts in the formation of the government of provincial unity. The PEC is further concerned that the impasse and delays tend to elevate public discourse and narratives that overshadow issues affecting the working class, relegating such issues to the periphery in what seems to be a narrow focus on cabinet positions, the SACP said. Biden commit to advancing ‘special relationship’ between countries President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Joe Biden expressed their shared commitment to advancing the ‘special relationship’ between the US and South Africa. Through a telephone call to Ramaphosa, Biden congratulated him on his re-election as President and the successful formation of the Government of National Unity, pledging working relations with South Africa. Ramaphosa was re-elected as President for a second term after his party struck a deal with political rivals, following the African National Congress losing its outright majority in the 2024 national and provincial elections. Biden said the US would work closely with the seventh administration in South Africa on key areas such as economic growth, job creation, social development and climate change. The two leaders also discussed the US-South Africa bilateral relationship, and areas of future partnership including leadership in the G20. And, Lawmakers revive Spending Bill under new government South African lawmakers, in their first vote since a new government was formed, agreed to revive a bill allowing the National Treasury to release funds to ministries for the year through March 2025 to perform their duties. Lawmakers in the previous administration failed to complete the process to get the Appropriation Bill — tabled by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in February — passed before elections were held on May 29. The African National Congress, which has ruled South Africa for three decades, lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in the elections. That forced it to form a coalition government with rivals including the centrist Democratic Alliance and other smaller parties. South African law states that should the bill not be passed in its entirety, then government spending reverts back to the previous fiscal year. Now that it has been revived, a series of mini debates will be held for lawmakers to vote on each department’s budget. Godongwana will speak at the National Treasury’s budget debate on July 12. That’s a roundup of news making headlines today Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe. Making headlines: GNU Cabinet will increase transparent governance, accountability – FW de Klerk Foundation; Kganyago welcomes Godongwana's reappointment as Finance Minister; And, New trade and industry leadership expected to use industrial policy levers to support key sectors GNU Cabinet will increase transparent governance, accountability – FW de Klerk Foundation The FW de Klerk Foundation today expressed confidence in the newly appointed national executive of the Government of National Unity, saying it would increase transparent governance and accountability to the people of South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday announced 32 ministerial positions of the GNU, with 20 position being filled by the African National Congress, six by the Democratic Alliance and the remainder split among a crowd of smaller coalition parties. After losing its outright majority in the 2024 national and provincial elections, the ANC was forced to form a coalition government. The foundation’s executive director Christo van der Rheede said the announcement of the new Cabinet marked a significant step forward for South Africa’s GNU. Kganyago welcomes Godongwana's reappointment as Finance Minister South African central bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago welcomed the reappointment of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in the new coalition cabinet unveiled by the president this week. Kganyago said South Africa still has the same minister of finance that it had been talking to, who has always been providing guidance and leadership on macroeconomic policy and that gives comfort. The formation of the so-called government of national unity also provides reassurance to investors who had been concerned about what type of coalition would be formed in the wake of elections in May, he said. The African National Congress, which had governed South Africa for three decades since the end of apartheid in 1994, lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in the May 29 vote. That forced the party to form a coalition government with rivals including the centrist Democratic Alliance and other smaller parties. And, New trade and industry leadership expected to use industrial policy levers to support key sectors With industrial policy back in fashion in many economies, business and policy specialists expect new Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau to prioritise measures to support key sectors, including those aligned to the emerging green economy. The former Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister and City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor has been appointed to the position in the government of national unity together with two deputies, Zuko Godlimpi, also of the African National Congress, and Andrew Whitfield, of the Democratic Alliance. The position was held by Ebrahim Patel, who retired at the end of his term, and debate regarding who would occupy the key economic portfolio was intense ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s June 30 announcement, as it was reportedly offered to the Democratic Alliance before being withdrawn. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition is responsible for a range of economy-shaping policies, including those seeking to redress racial imbalances that persist in the business environment, and it also has implementation responsibilities, through various agencies, in areas as diverse as industrial financing and company registrations, to standards and competition enforcement. In welcoming the appointments, Business Unity South Africa CEO designate Khulekani Mathe told Engineering News that he expected dtic’s new political leaders to prioritise the enhancement of the country's industrial policy to support key sectors, while also promoting innovation and ensuring sustainable industrial development. That’s a roundup of news making headlines today Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at ...

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe. Making headlines: Opposition parties disappointed with Cabinet enlargement; Sadtu dissatisfied with Siviwe Gwarube’s appointment as Basic Education Minister; And, Kenya government committed to cutting spending, Finance Minister says Opposition parties disappointed with Cabinet enlargement Political parties have expressed disappointment with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s move to enlarge his Cabinet, after promising to significantly downsize the number of portfolios. On Sunday Ramaphosa announced his much-anticipated Cabinet, following the 2024 national and provincial elections which saw the African National Congress losing it outright majority for the first time since 1994. Ramaphosa announced the appointment of 32 Ministers and 42 Deputy Ministers, with Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen and Inkatha Freedom Party leader Velenkosini Hlabisa being allocated ministerial positions. The Economic Freedom Fighters noted that Ramaphosa’s bloated Cabinet signalled more pressure on tax payers to allow for the accommodation of “racists and their policies in high position of power”. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba noted that the “bloated and compromised” Cabinet was a bad first impression for the new grand coalition and any intention of bringing meaningful reform to the politics that was voted out by a majority in this election. Build One South Africa said it was firmly opposed to extending patronage using Cabinet positions, calling for the removal of blue light brigades; VIP security details; million-rand luxury cars; business class flights and travel and catering benefits. Sadtu dissatisfied with Siviwe Gwarube’s appointment as Basic Education Minister The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union has condemned what it termed the Democratic Alliance’s arrogant, racist attitude and mentality of telling President Cyril Ramaphosa how to exercise his constitutional duty to appoint his Cabinet, criticising the appointment of Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube. After nearly two weeks of rigorous negotiations, Ramaphosa announced the composition of the seventh administration’s National Executive. This after the African National Congress lost its outright majority in the 2024 national provincial elections. Sadtu noted that in announcing his Cabinet, Ramaphosa mentioned experience and skills to deliver as some of the attributes of this Cabinet. The union highlighted that it acknowledged that the President had a prerogative in appointing Ministers and Deputy Ministers to serve the country, saying that what Sadtu knew from the leaked letters of the DA though, was that the DA demanded certain ministerial posts including basic education. And, Kenya government committed to cutting spending, Finance Kenya's Finance Minister today reaffirmed the government's commitment to cut spending after the President suggested a nearly $2.7-billion budget gap caused by the withdrawal of proposed tax hikes would be funded by borrowing. Last Wednesday, President William Ruto withdrew a finance Bill containing 346-billion Kenyan shillings ($2.69-billion) in tax increases, following deadly protests in which at least 24 people were killed. In his speech announcing the Bill's withdrawal, Ruto said he would propose austerity measures to help tackle the fiscal deficit. However, in an interview with television stations yesterday, Ruto said the government would have to borrow an extra 346-billion shillings to fill the deficit, bringing total borrowing for the 2024/25 fiscal year to nearly 1-trillion shillings. That’s a roundup of news making headlines today Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost. Making headlines: 27 State capture suspects arrested; DA committed to cabinet negotiations, ANC says talks 'almost done'; And, Parliament joint sitting to be held on July 18 27 State capture suspects arrested The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation national head Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya assured that the State Capture National Investigation Task Team is focussing on conducting comprehensive investigations, prioritising investigations and transforming inquiries into case dockets. Briefing the media on the Hawks 2023/24 achievements, he said 2 241 statements had been obtained in 53 cases, relating to the recommendations that came out of the State capture commission. Twenty-seven suspects – 19 natural and eight juristic persons – have been arrested by the Hawks, Lebeya said. He announced that the DPCI had already arrested six suspects in the Bosasa case before it was taken over by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, bringing the total arrests by the DPCI to 33. The team recovered over R400-million, promptly deposited into the Criminal Asset Recovery Account, Lebeya added. DA committed to cabinet negotiations, ANC says talks 'almost done' The Democratic Alliance is committed to working out a deal over posts in President Cyril Ramaphosa's cabinet, a party source close to the talks said today, in response to reports that negotiations were at risk of collapse. And a senior official on the negotiating team for Ramaphosa's African National Congress said the coalition discussions were "almost done". South African media had reported that a major disagreement between the pro-business DA and the ANC over the trade and industry portfolio had threatened to derail the collaboration between the two parties. A DA spokesperson said the party would communicate officially when negotiations were finalised. The ANC, the legacy liberation movement of Nelson Mandela, and the white-led DA are the largest of the 10 parties in the government of national unity that emerged after Ramaphosa's ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid in an election last month. And, Parliament joint sitting to be held on July 18 President Cyril Ramaphosa said today that the Opening of Parliament being held on July 18 is a fitting tribute to former President Nelson Mandela, as it calls on individuals and communities to take time to reflect on his values and principles and to make a positive impact on communities and globally. The Opening of Parliament will coincide with the United Nations-declared Nelson Mandela International Day and will be a Joint Sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. The Presidency said the Opening of Parliament will be a platform for Ramaphosa to outline the priorities of the seventh administration. That’s a roundup of news making headlines today Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA

June 27, 2024. For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost. Making headlines: Cabinet talks stall after ANC withdraws trade offer South African food inflation remained below CPI headline inflation in May And, Congo authorities approve mpox vaccines to try to contain outbreak Cabinet talks stall after ANC withdraws trade offer Talks between South Africa’s two biggest political parties on forming a cabinet stalled after the African National Congress withdrew an offer to appoint a member of the smaller Democratic Alliance as trade and industry minister, people familiar with the matter said. While the ANC offered to instead cede the tourism portfolio, the DA objected as the party sees it as a minor ministry, said the people who asked not to be identified as the negotiations are private. The disagreement is delaying a deal over the appointment of ministers almost a month after the election cost the ANC its parliamentary majority for the first time. Still, negotiations on the cabinet were always expected to be difficult and it’s anticipated that an agreement may yet be reached, the people said. The setback is the latest twist in talks that are being watched anxiously by investors. The DA had initially asked for about 10 ministerial posts, while the ANC had offered three, Bloomberg has previously reported. The two parties, which have been bitter opponents for decades, later settled on about six, with the DA wanting to be represented in the so-called economic cluster, which includes the trade and industry portfolio. South African food inflation remained below CPI headline inflation in May In May, for the third month in a row, South African food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation, hereafter to be referred to simply as food inflation, ran at a level below that of consumer price index headline inflation, reported the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy in its latest Food Inflation Brief report. Year-on-year food inflation was 4.7% last month, while CPI headline inflation was 5.2%. In month-on-month terms, the two rates were effectively flat, with each increasing by only 0.2%. Food inflation contributed 0.9 percentage points to the CPI headline inflation year-on-year figure, and 0.03 ppt to the month-on-month number. Regarding input costs for the food sector, in May the CPI for “electricity and other fuels” rose by 15.3%, year-on-year, but by zero percent, month-on-month. The CPI figure for “fuel” increased by 9%, year-on-year, and by 1.9%, month-on-month. But, for the first time in many months, the rand appreciated against the dollar, instead of depreciating. Congo authorities approve mpox vaccines to try to contain outbreak Authorities in the Democratic of Congo have approved the use of two mpox vaccines to try to tackle an upsurge in cases and a dangerous new strain spreading in the country. Congo has seen 20 000 cases and more than 1 000 deaths from mpox, mainly among children, since the start of last year. The disease is a viral infection that spreads through close contact, causing flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Most cases are mild but it can kill. This week, the World Health Organization and scientists warned of a new, more deadly strain spreading in Congo's South Kivu province. The regulator has issued an emergency use authorisation for both Bavarian Nordic's shot, Jynneos, and LC16, made by KM Biologics, according to documents and sources involved in the process. That’s a roundup of news making headlines today Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe. Making headlines: Life Esidimeni judgment to be delivered on July 10; ZEP holders urged to obtain alternative visas; And Kenyan protesters promise more rallies after deadly parliament violence Life Esidimeni judgment to be delivered on July 10 The much-anticipated judgment in the Life Esidimeni Inquest will be delivered on July 10, by Judge Mmonoa Teffo of the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. The judgment was previously set down to be delivered on June 28. The inquest was launched to determine the cause of the deaths of the 141 mental health care users who died after they were transferred from Life Esidimeni to unlicenced non-governmental organisations. SECTION27 represented 44 mental healthcare users who died in conditions of extreme neglect, with many of them being emaciated, dehydrated and suffering from bed sores, it said. ZEP holders urged to obtain alternative visas Following the court judgment that the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit will remain effective until November 29, 2025, the National Employers’ Association of South Africa is urging all permit holders to obtain alternative visas as soon as practicably possible. Last week, the Constitutional Court dismissed Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi’s appeal against last year’s High Court judgment, which found that his decision to scrap the ZEPs was procedurally unfair and infringed on the constitutional rights of ZEP holders. Motsoaledi must now comply with the High Court order. Neasa said this was a positive development for affected employers and employees. And Kenyan protesters promise more rallies after deadly parliament violence Kenyan protesters vowed today to keep up their demonstrations against new tax hikes, a day after police opened fire on crowds trying to storm parliament, leaving at least eight people dead and scores wounded. An online outpouring of anger over tax increases has swelled into a nationwide protest movement calling for a political overhaul, in the most serious crisis of President William Ruto's two-year-old presidency. Many social media users focused on Ruto's speech after the clashes, in which he said the attack on parliament was the work of "criminals pretending to be peaceful protesters". Nairobi's main public mortuary received the bodies of six people killed in Tuesday's protests, a police officer posted there said. Another two bodies and 160 people with injuries came into the Kenyatta National Hospital, two health officials said. That’s a roundup of news making headlines today Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Shomolekae. Making headlines: SACP wants swift cabinet appointments, condemns DA’s demands; MK party lawmakers sworn in after boycotting first sitting; And, ANC to work with traditional leaders in preparation for national dialogue SACP wants swift cabinet appointments, condemns DA’s demands The South African Communist Party, which has expressed strong opposition to a coalition with the Democratic Alliance, today said it is “vindicated” by what it refers to as the DA’s “trickery, hypocritical and untenable” demands as parties in the Government of National Unity meet to discuss Cabinet positions. In a detailed letter to African National Congress secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, DA federal chairperson Helen Zille said it was “fair and reasonable” for the DA to be represented across all Cabinet clusters, including the ministries of Mineral Resources and Energy, Transport, and trade and Industry. The SACP highlighted that while the ANC did not receive an outright majority to form a government, it is important for everyone to recognise that it still has been voted the largest electoral party according to voter support. The SACP is accusing the DA of positioning itself against the GNU, claiming that this is obvious from its so-called “manoeuvres to secure a hostile takeover” through a grand coalition with the ANC, also involving the Inkatha Freedom Party, in which, the SACP says, the DA will wield (wild) veto power under the guise of “sufficient consensus.” MK party lawmakers sworn in after boycotting first sitting Members of South Africa's uMkhonto we Sizwe party were sworn in as lawmakers in parliament today after boycotting the first sitting of the National Assembly nearly two weeks ago. MK lawmakers had stayed away on June 14 after filing a complaint at the country's top court alleging vote-rigging in the May 29 election, which the court dismissed as without merit. MK, the party of former South African president Jacob Zuma, came a surprisingly strong third in the election in which the African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority. MK has declined to join a government of national unity. All of its 58 lawmakers, including Zuma's daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, took the oath, allowing parliament's lower house to start its business. Among them were former finance minister Des van Rooyen, appointed out of the blue by Zuma in 2015 and then dismissed after four days in favour of Pravin Gordhan when the rand currency collapsed. Another prominent MK member also sworn in – former Western Cape judge president John Hlophe, impeached by the previous parliament for misconduct, including for using his position to try to influence judges in a Zuma corruption case. And, ANC to work with traditional leaders in preparation for national dialogue The African National Congress said in the spirit of sustaining constant communication, it would hold continuous engagements with the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa on issues that affect them. The party said in preparation for the upcoming national dialogue, it will work with Contralesa in all provinces on inputs regarding the role of traditional leaders in the Government of National Unity. Last week the ANC said members of the GNU would soon host a national dialogue with the aim of getting consensus amongst South Africans as to some of the priority areas for the seventh administration. The national dialogue process will seek to develop a national social compact that enables the country to meet the aspirations of the National Development Plan. The Statement of Intent signed by ten political parties commits the GNU parties "to an all-inclusive national dialogue process with parties, civil society, labour, business and other sectors”. ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said the ANC noted that Contralesa had already put together a Working Group on the role of traditional leaders in the GN...

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Shomolekae. Making headlines: Ramaphosa said parties in GNU need to demonstrate genuine collaboration; MK Party MPs to be sworn in tomorrow; And, Egypt temporarily extends daily power cuts to three hours Ramaphosa said parties in GNU need to demonstrate genuine collaboration President Cyril Ramaphosa said as political parties finalise the modalities of the Government of National Unity, guided by the Statement of Intent, the days and weeks that lie ahead will be crucial. Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly letter to the nation that the formation of the GNU is a momentous development in South Africa’s democracy, saying every effort must be made to ensure that it remains true to its founding spirit of collaboration in good faith to drive a programme that improves the lives of South Africans. He noted that the success of the GNU will be measured by the extent to which parties are prepared to focus how they will govern together, rather than on who governs. Ramaphosa noted that the country’s hopes are pinned on the success of the GNU. He said parties in the GNU need to demonstrate in word and deed that their programme is “clear, coherent and sustainable”, that their collaboration is genuine, and that the interests of the people will always come first. MK Party MPs to be sworn in tomorrow 58 uMkhonto we Sizwe party members will be sworn into Parliament tomorrow, after they boycotted the first sitting of the National Assembly on June 14. The party filed a complaint at the country's top court alleging vote-rigging, which the court dismissed as without merit. Parliament explained that all required travel and accommodation logistics are being arranged in preparation for the swearing-in ceremony. This swearing-in of original nominees from the MK Party list will be presided over by the Chief Justice, or a judge designated by him, as this is the inaugural swearing-in of these Members following the National and Provincial Elections. The Speaker will administer the oath to Members who were nominated after the first sitting. Last week the party confirmed that impeached, former judge John Hlophe will become the parliamentary leader of the MK Party. And, Egypt temporarily extends daily power cuts to three hours Egypt's government has extended daily power cuts to three hours on Sunday and Monday, one hour longer than usual, in response to a surge in domestic electricity consumption because of a heatwave, a cabinet statement said. Since July last year, loadshedding linked to falling gas production, rising demand and a shortage of foreign currency has led to scheduled two-hour daily power cuts in most areas. Earlier this month, a shortage of gas supplies led to temporary shutdowns at fertiliser and chemical plants. The blackouts, which began last summer as demand for air conditioning rose, have stirred frustration among citizens and interruptions for businesses, and led to several reported deaths. Officials have blamed power cuts on rising demand from a growing population of 106-million and development projects. That’s a roundup of news making headlines today Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA