For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.
Making headlines: Nomvula Mokonyane says ANC is not anti-West, Social development department wants R350 social relief grant to be paid for another two years and, Kremlin says it did not tell South Africa that Putin arrest would mean war

Nomvula Mokonyane says ANC is not anti-West

ANC 1st Deputy Secretary General Nomvula Mokonyane dismissed notions that the ANC is anti-West.

She said this was untrue given South Africa’s struggle history and promotion of trade relations and the fact that South Africa has also committed to the United Nations resolutions.  

She called for mutual respect of the UN Charter ahead of the Brics summit, in August, which is been closely watched owing to the possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin would attend.

The Presidency has since revealed that Putin will not come to South Africa for the summit and will, instead, send Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as the ICC issued a warrant for Putin’s arrest for crimes against humanity.

Social development department wants R350 social relief grant to be paid for another two years

The Department of Social Development is lobbying Cabinet to extend the R350 social relief distress grant for another two years.

This is to ensure the continuation of much-needed income support until a more permanent basic income support policy can be implemented. 

According to Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu, cash programmes such as the SRD grant have their benefits.

The grant, introduced at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, has been extended to March 2024 but remains a temporary grant.

Kremlin says it did not tell South Africa that Putin arrest would mean war

The Kremlin Russia did not tell South Africa that arresting President Vladimir Putin on an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court would mean "war".

Shortly after the Kremlin's comments, South Africa said that Putin would not attend a summit of the Brics group of nations in South Africa in August "by mutual agreement."

The ICC has accused Putin and his children's commissioner of the war crime of deporting children from Ukraine to Russia, something Moscow rejects as false.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that everyone understood - without having it explained to them - what an attempt to infringe on Putin's rights would mean.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today
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