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

Making headlines: NEC meeting sees proxy fight over where ANC rally should be held; Steenhuisen's first shadow cabinet reshuffle; And, South Africa offers bankrupt airline’s staff less than legally required

NEC meeting sees proxy fight over where ANC rally should be held

A battle over where the African National Congress hosts its 8 January rally, that would give either President Cyril Ramaphosa or ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule an edge, became a proxy fight in the ANC national executive committee meeting.

Among the issues in the heated debate, which included corruption-accused Magashule stepping aside, NEC leaders from both factions were fighting over where the annual rally should be held.

Magashule hails from the Free State and pre-emptively announced outside his court appearance last month that the rally would take place on his home ground.

Steenhuisen's first shadow cabinet reshuffle

Apart from the high profile replacement of Phumzile van Damme with Zakhele Mbhele as Democratic Alliance spokesperson for communications, DA leader John Steenhuisen's first shuffle of his "shadow cabinet" didn't have major surprises.

Mbhele, spokesperson on police in the Fifth Parliament, was the spokesperson on small business development after last year's election. He is replaced by Jan van De Villiers.

Van Damme is still indicated as a member of the Portfolio Committee on Communications.

Haniff Hoosen is moved to being spokesperson on the Auditor-General – De Villiers' previous position.

Previous spokesperson on higher education, science and technology Belinda Bozzoli died on Saturday. She is replaced by Chantel King as spokesperson on higher education, science and technology. Annelie Lotriet and Nomsa Marchesi will join King in the portfolio committee. Marchesi was the spokesperson on basic education.

And, South Africa offers bankrupt airline’s staff less than legally required

The Department of Public Enterprises has asked workers at the bankrupt national airline to accept three months’ pay rather than the eight months they are entitled to by labour law and the terms of a business rescue plan.

South African Airways, which was placed under administration in December last year, hasn’t flown commercially since March and its business rescue plan details a hierarchy of payments including severance packages for dismissed workers.

The offer was made at the weekend and will not be accepted according to Grant Back, chairman of the South African Airways Pilots Association.

The department paid R1.5-billion to the administrators of the airline last week, but the money can’t be used because the administrators say the conditions imposed breach labour and companies regulation.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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