For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: Justice Malala says Paul Mashatile could become ANC president, Ramaphosa prepares for intensive period of economic diplomacy and, Presidency says load-shedding likely to persist for another 18 months

Justice Malala says Paul Mashatile could become ANC president

Renowned South African political commentator and columnist Justice Malala has asserted that ANC Treasurer General Paul Mashatile will definitely become the party’s Deputy President and added that he could also be elevated to the presidency of the ANC.

Malala was speaking during a PSG webinar today where he said that if President Cyril Ramaphosa and former Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, who is also in the running for party president ,have to step aside for the Phala Phala and Digital Vibes sagas, respectively, two of the top runners will be out of play.

He predicts that Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who has been linked to the Jacob Zuma faction, will not ascend to the presidency.

The ANC will hold its 5th elective conference in December.

Ramaphosa prepares for intensive period of economic diplomacy

President Cyril Ramaphosa is preparing for an intense period of economic diplomacy, including participation in the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, and the COP27 climate negotiations to be held at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

The Presidency reported that Ramaphosa would participate in a series of bilateral and multilateral engagements over the next three months.

Ramaphosa described economic diplomacy as a key lever for the realisation of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan to rebuild the economy.

In October, the South African President will meet host President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic of Spain in Pretoria, before undertaking a working visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Presidency says load-shedding likely to persist for another 18 months

The Presidency insists that progress is being made to implement the plan outlined by President Cyril Ramaphosa on July 25 to tackle load-shedding.

However, the Presidency’s Rudi Dicks cautions that rotational power cuts are likely to remain a reality for at least another 18 months.

In a presentation delivered during the Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa’s recent conference, Dicks reiterated government’s acknowledgement that the power crisis represented the “single most important constraint on economic growth and job creation”.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter [@PolityZA]