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

Making headlines: ActionSA withdraws motion to remove Joburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda; Ramokgopa says distribution is ‘albatross’ of power system; And, WHO head urges strengthening defences against health emergencies

ActionSA withdraws motion to remove Joburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda

ActionSA will withdraw its motion of no confidence in Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda, which was meant to happen in a council meeting this week.

A series of meetings between ActionSA, Inkatha Freedom Party, Freedom Front Plus and the Patriotic Alliance failed to garner support from the Democratic Alliance to allow the motion against Gwamanda to succeed.

The DA's decision not to support a coalition arrangement involving the PA meant that the motion against Gwamanda would have failed.

ActionSA had withdrawn the motion to avoid further political turbulence in the City of Johannesburg.

The DA has repeatedly refused to work with the PA despite the party's leader, Gayton McKenzie, promising to end its working relationship with the African National Congress in several municipalities.

Ramokgopa says distribution is ‘albatross’ of power system

South Africa’s electricity distribution system is “an albatross” beset by fighting between the national power utility and municipalities as the government takes steps to stabilize the grid, according to the electricity minister.

State-owned Eskom has focused on improving the performance of the mainly coal-fired power stations that have become unreliable due to neglected maintenance, resulting in record electricity outages that curb economic growth.

But the networks that connect to customers have become a growing challenge, electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said.

South Africa has taken measures to add generation from independent producers through government auctions, though the process has been delayed and some projects held up due to grid constraints. Some businesses that can afford it are building their own generation.

Financially distressed municipalities are unable to maintain local distribution assets, which makes the equipment more prone to breakdowns, Ramokgopa said. Illegal connections also add strain to the system.

And, WHO head urges strengthening defences against health emergencies

World Health Organization director general Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus has urged all Member States to take decisive action to provide primary health services as the foundation of universal health coverage, by reorienting health systems.

African health ministers and government representatives opened the seventy-third session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa today to discuss and agree on key measures to address the region’s health challenges, advance and promote good health and well-being.

The annual gathering is taking place in Gaborone, Botswana, from Monday until Friday.

Ghebreyesus urged all Member States to take action to protect health, by strengthening defences against health emergencies.

WHO Africa’s highest decision- making body will, this week, focus on a range of strategies to bolster health systems, enhance readiness and response to health emergencies, reinforce ways to tackle nutrition and food insecurity crises, as well as address the threat of infectious and chronic diseases among other challenges.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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