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

Making headlines: Former ANCYL president Collen Maine makes North West MEC list; IFP says current Government of National Unity situation is not a crisis; And, six more Mpox cases confirmed as first batch of treatment arrives

Former ANCYL president Collen Maine makes North West MEC list

Members of the Executive Council in the North West will be sworn in today, following their appointment by Premier Lazarus Mokgosi.

Former African National Congress Youth League president Collen Maine has been appointed Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation MEC, while Madoda Sambatha was moved from the Health Department to Agriculture and Rural Development.

Mokgosi appointed the following MECs: Wessels Morweng for the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management; Oageng Molapisi for Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs; Bitsa Lenkopane for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism; Sello Lehari for the Department of Health; Viola Motsumi for Department of Education; Kenetswe Mosenogi for Provincial Treasury; Elizabeth Mokua for the Department of Public Works and Roads and Sussana Dantjie for Social Development.

Mokgosi noted that the appointment of MECs of the North West provincial government was a culmination of wider consultations within and outside government.

IFP says current Government of National Unity situation is not a crisis

The Inkatha Freedom Party stressed today an urgent need to iron out the differences between the African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance through a joint meeting by the members of the Government of National Unity.

The party noted the ongoing public disagreements between ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and DA federal chair Helen Zille, as it pertains to clause 24 of the GNU statement of intent, which relates to adding new members to the GNU.

The DA enquired with the ANC about the addition of the Patriotic Alliance to the GNU, without consultation.

IFP MP Mkhuleko Hlengwa said his party did not believe that the current situation was a crisis.

Earlier this week the ANC announced the GNU consisted of seven parties including the DA, IFP, the GOOD party, the PA, the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania and the Freedom Front Plus.

Hlengwa noted that the GNU was a coalition government, highlighting that one of the elements for a successful coalition government was that whenever there are differences of opinion, there must be joint engagement by GNU partners to find common ground.

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to meet with IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa and DA leader John Steenhuisen today.

And, six more Mpox cases confirmed as first batch of treatment arrives

The Department of Health has announced six more laboratory-confirmed cases of Mpox (previously known as monkey pox), in the country, bringing the total number of cases to 13.

Seven of the cases were confirmed in KwaZulu-Natal, five in Gauteng and one in the Western Cape, said Department of Health spokesperson Foster Mohale.

The death toll remains at two.

Mohale highlighted that amid rising cases, the department had received a batch of Mpox-specific treatment, Tecovirimat, for patients who experience severe health complications as a result of Mpox disease.

He said the process to secure more treatment, including vaccines, was underway.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA