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

Making headlines: Health Authority lifts pause on J&J vaccine with conditions; UCT suspends academic activities, provides emergency accommodation for students following fire; And, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says only 53% of SA's senior municipal managers meet minimum competency levels

Health Authority lifts pause on J&J vaccine with conditions

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has recommended that the pause of the Sisonke vaccine trial study using the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine be lifted, provided that specific conditions are met.

The US, South Africa and the European Union temporarily stopped the rollout of the Johnson & Johnson jab, after six cases of rare blood clotting were reported in the US.

The authority has highlighted that participants in the Sisonke study will be informed about the possible risks of developing a blood clotting disorder after vaccination and will also be advised to seek immediate medical assistance if they develop early signs and symptoms associated with blood clots or low platelet counts.

UCT suspends academic activities, provides emergency accommodation for students following fire

The University of Cape Town has suspended all academic activities for Monday and Tuesday, following a massive fire that started in Cape Town on Sunday.

The fire reached UCT’s Rondebosch campus forcing the university to evacuate all buildings, including residences, and lock down the campus. Emergency measures have been instituted by the university and emergency accommodation is being prepared for students that have been evacuated from residences.

UCT is not yet able to confirm the extent of property damage or the number or names of the buildings affected.

And, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says only 53% of SA's senior municipal managers meet minimum competency levels

South Africa's municipalities are not only in a financial and political mess but also appear to be led by incompetent officials, thanks to information that came to light in a parliamentary reply.

Only 53% of all municipal senior managers met minimum competency levels.

Out of 2 747 senior municipal officials, only 1 500 met minimum competency levels, acting Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni revealed when replying to a question from Democratic Alliance MP Cilliers Brink.

Prescribed minimum competency levels were introduced 13 years ago for municipal managers, CFOs, supply chain managers and other managers working in finance and procurement divisions.

Further in Ntshavheni's reply, it emerged that only 128 of the country's 248 chief financial officers achieved minimum competency levels.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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