For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: SA labour declares 'war' over government plans to cut wage bill track, committee urges Minister to fast-track appointment of IPID head and, Zimbabwe deports 16 Malawi nationals

SA labour declares 'war' over government plans to cut wage bill track

The Public Servants Association said it was concerned about government plans to cut the civil service wage bill in a bid to reduce South Africa's budget deficit and shore up the struggling economy.

The Federation of Unions of South Africa also slammed the proposal, declaring war on finance minister Tito Mboweni.

Presenting the 2020 budget to Parliament on Wednesday, Mboweni said government would decrease its wage bill by about R160-billion over the medium term as part of efforts to lower spending and narrow a budget deficit projected at 6.8% of GDP for the 2020/21 financial year.

Committee urges Minister to fast-track appointment of IPID head

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police has urged Police Minster Bheki Cele to fast-track the appointment of the executive director of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.

The former IPID head’s contract ended on February 28, 2019 and according to the IPID Act, the Minister must fill the vacancy in a reasonable amount of time, not exceeding one year.

Tina Joemat-Peterson, said the committee hopes that a fit and proper person is appointed to head such a critical institution, as it serves as watchdog over the South African Police Service.

Zimbabwe deports 16 Malawi nationals

Sixteen Malawian citizens have returned home after being deported from Zimbabwe for using uncharted routes and improper traveling documents.

Mwanza border post spokesperson Pasqually Zulu said that the eight women, six men and two minors, who were stopped in Zimbabwe's capital Harare in January en route to South Africa, arrived in Malawi on  February 26.

Earlier this month, immigration authorities in Mozambique deported 23 Malawian nationals travelling in a truck, also headed for South Africa.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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