July 11, 2024.

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lynne Davies.

Making headlines:

MK Party's Arthur Zwane reinstated with immediate affect

New Minister backs health insurance revamp

And, New Dirco minister Ronald Lamola punts opportunities in Africa to stimulate economic growth

MK Party's Arthur Zwane reinstated with immediate affect

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has announced that its secretary-general Arthur Zwane is back at work with immediate effect, saying maintaining strong capacity, unity and continuity within the party’s ranks is more important than ever.

Reports of interference by party leader Jacob Zuma apparently led to Zwane’s immediate resignation earlier this month.

Zuma then appointed Menzi Magubane and Dr Sifiso Maseko as the new treasurer-general and secretary-general, respectively.

The party confirmed that Zuma has decided not to accept the resignation of Zwane.

The party said it looked forward to Zwane’s continued contributions to building a “strong, vibrant, and resilient” MKP, and to Maseko’s vital role in reinforcing the human resource arm of the party.

New Minister backs health insurance revamp

South Africa’s new health minister backed a recent law that will lay the groundwork for universal national health insurance, an indication of his party’s resolve to follow through with the controversial programme despite having lost its parliamentary majority.

The National Health Insurance Act, which was spearheaded by the African National Congress and signed into law less than two weeks before May 29 elections after years of wrangling, is imperative and must be implemented, Aaron Motsoaledi said in an address to lawmakers on his department’s budget allocation in Cape Town today.

While some believe South Africa isn’t ready for NHI and others consider it unaffordable, it is in fact “a health-financing system which is meant to be an equaliser between the rich and the poor,” the minister said.

Opponents say it won’t remedy the healthcare system’s shortcomings, is unconstitutional and that the government hasn’t spelled out how much the revamped system will cost or how it will be funded. The Solidarity labour union has filed a lawsuit challenging the validity of the legislation.

New Dirco minister Ronald Lamola punts opportunities in Africa to stimulate economic growth

In his first stint as International Relations and Cooperations Minister Ronald Lamola stressed the need for government to intensify efforts to help South African companies and State-owned enterprises engage in meaningful opportunities in Africa, to stimulate economic growth.

Lamola was speaking today at the South African Institute of International Affairs’ symposium, on South Africa’s Foreign Policy, where he said government is looking to strengthen its partnerships in Africa to address business challenges and create a favourable environment for conducting business.

He pointed out that South Africa has maintained its strong position as an investor in Africa over the past year, with over 450 projects in various countries.

He noted that this achievement are the results of coordinated approach and investment initiatives and commend the efforts of the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the Industrial Development Corporation.

Lamola said government will continue working closely with its neighbours in the Southern Africa region to expand and strengthen collaboration in oil and gas, green hydrogen, and water resources, as well as improved movements of goods and services.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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