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

Making headlines: IFP says e-tolls are a barrier to economic growth, Public Works to spend millions on refurbishments to MPs' houses and improvements at Parliament and, court says Malema's comments against Gordhan not hate speech

IFP says e-tolls are a barrier to economic growth

The Inkatha Freedom Party Gauteng has said it will continue to oppose the e-tolling system imposed on Gauteng roads because it believes the system is a barrier to economic growth as it increases the cost of doing business in Gauteng and in South Africa.

The IFP rebuked Finance Minister Tito Mboweni for encouraging users of Gauteng roads to pay for e-tolls, which the party says residents did not ask for.

Mboweni announced during his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in Parliament on Wednesday that the e-tolls system would remain in its current form.

Public Works to spend millions on refurbishments to MPs' houses and improvements at Parliament

After spending almost three-quarters of a billion rand on the three parliamentary villages, its upkeep and transport the past 10 years, the Department of Public Works is planning another project, worth R110-million, to refurbish houses for MPs.

The department is also planning to demolish and replace the prefabricated houses containing asbestos at the parliamentary villages at a later stage.

The department briefed the Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament late on Wednesday, shortly after Finance Minister Tito Mboweni presented a grim medium-term budget policy statement.

Court says Malema's comments against Gordhan not hate speech

The Equality Court has dismissed Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan's hate speech case against Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema with costs.

Gordhan hauled the EFF leader to the Equality court, following a scathing public attack in November last year.

During an address to EFF supporters outside the Zondo commission of inquiry into State capture in Johannesburg, Malema took aim at Gordhan by referring to him as - among other things - a "dog of white monopoly capital”.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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