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

Making headlines: Ramaphosa to face first motion of no confidence on March 30; Mondli Gungubele says government believes in negotiated peaceful resolutions in Russian war; And, Health department report finds apathy is driving slow vaccine uptake

Ramaphosa to face first motion of no confidence on March 30

President Cyril Ramaphosa will face his first motion of no confidence on March 30.

His Cabinet will face a similar motion on the same day.

Both votes will be in the open, and this could delay the process as some opposition parties are unhappy about National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's decision and could take further steps.

Democratic Alliance chief whip Natasha Mazzone said an open vote would be "very concerning" to members who might not want to toe the party line, adding that an open vote would be tantamount to wasting time. She suggested that Mapisa-Nqakula take a legal opinion on the matter.

Mapisa-Nqakula said she had taken a legal opinion.

Mondli Gungubele says government believes in negotiated peaceful resolutions in Russian war

The South African government has once again called for a “negotiated diplomatic solution” to the Russian war, saying the socioeconomic cost of the conflict is devastating and its impact will be felt around the world.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has entered day 15. Yesterday it was reported that a children’s hospital and maternity ward in a southern Ukrainian city was destroyed by a Russian airstrike – at least three people have died.

Briefing the media on the post Cabinet meeting, Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele explained that Cabinet remained deeply concerned by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He also expressed concern about the ill-treatment of Africans trying to cross international borders during the conflict.

And, Health department report finds apathy is driving slow vaccine uptake

According to a social listening report from the Department of Health the widespread sentiment among South Africans is that "Covid-19 is over". The report further said this apathy could be impacting on slow vaccine uptake.

This comes as vaccination numbers remain sluggish and government may be forced to dump 100 000 vaccine doses at the end of the month.

More doses were likely to expire in May, June, and July.

Despite setting a target of vaccinating 76% of the population by December 2021, the government was only likely to reach 50% of the adult population with at least one dose later this month.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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