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

Making headlines: Bongani Baloyi joins ActionSA Senate; Western Cape MEC Albert Fritz accused of sexually assaulting young employees; And, ANC NEC says government must figure out how to best implement a basic income grant

Bongani Baloyi joins ActionSA Senate

ActionSA has  welcomed former Democratic Alliance Midvaal mayor Bongani Baloyi to its ranks.

Baloyi left the DA in December last year, after 14 years with the party and after being announced as the DA’s Gauteng premier candidate for 2024. 

Baloyi become the youngest mayor when he took the reins at Midvaal in 2013. 

Under his stewardship, which ended after the 2021 local government elections, Midvaal municipality received seven clean audits and was ranked the top-performing municipality.

He will serve on ActionSA’s Senate, the party’s highest decision-making body.

Western Cape MEC Albert Fritz accused of sexually assaulting young employees

Western Cape Community Safety MEC and provincial Democratic Alliance leader Albert Fritz was suspended following serious allegations of sexual assault that were levelled against him by young employees.

Premier Alan Winde announced Fritz's suspension without divulging the reasons for the decision.

Fritz allegedly sexually assaulted young female workers in his office.

Four independent sources confirmed that sexual assault allegations were at the core of Winde's sudden move against Fritz.

And, ANC NEC says government must figure out how to best implement a basic income grant

President Cyril Ramaphosa has said the African National Congress’s national executive committee has resolved that government must look into how to best institute a basic income grant to assist the country’s poor and unemployed.

Ramaphosa said in an address at the conclusion of the NEC’s lekgotla on Sunday that the special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant of R350 had made a "significant positive impact on the lives of the poor but more particularly the unemployed".

Ramaphosa said government must examine the feasibility and affordability of providing some form of income support for the poor and unemployed going forward.

The SRD grant is expected to end in March.

In December a panel recommended the country gradually implement a basic income grant, beginning with the institutionalisation of the SRD.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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