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

Making headlines: Brics invites six nations to join bloc; SACP’s Mapaila says reorganisation of politics afoot in South Africa; And, Cape Town council meeting descends into chaos with the EFF removed

Brics invites six nations to join bloc

The five Brics developing nations will admit Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates into the bloc, a move aimed at growing clout as it pushes to rebalance the prevailing world order.

The expansion could also pave the way for dozens more countries to seek admission to the grouping, which has pledged to address grievances over a world order many feel is rigged against them.

Deepening geopolitical polarisation in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's declining relations with the United States are spurring efforts by Beijing and Moscow to forge Brics into a viable counterweight to the West.

The six candidate countries will formally become members on January 1, 2024.

SACP’s Mapaila says reorganisation of politics afoot in South Africa

South African Communist Party general secretary Solly Mapaila said that South Africa is in the throes of a "reorganisation" of politics, which poses a danger in terms of the sustainability of the status quo.

Mapaila was addressing delegates at a three-day convention of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union, in Johannesburg.

Mapaila warned that there was a rupture taking place in South African politics.

He said there were forces, "similar to a reincarnation of the apartheid and Bantustan forces", coming together to remove the liberation movement.

He said the neoliberal policies that were united through the ANC have reached a point of crisis.

And, Cape Town council meeting descends into chaos with the EFF removed

The City of Cape Town's council sitting descended into chaos this morning after members of the Economic Freedom Fighters armed with posters interrupted Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis's opening speech.

The City's law enforcement officers had to move in to remove EFF members who had held up banners reading "JP Smith must fall".

Smith is the Cape Town mayoral committee member for safety and security.

Members of the EFF then approached the podium where Hill-Lewis was delivering his opening remarks, forcing council Speaker Felicity Purchase to adjourn the sitting.

Opposition parties were set to debate the recent taxi stayaway when the chaos erupted.

The council sitting was forced to move to the main dining hall, while opposition parties were locked out of the sitting.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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