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

Making headlines: ANC's Dada Morero elected City of Johannesburg mayor unopposed, health dept considers solar power at health facilitiesa and, Limpopo DA wants more hospitals excluded from load-shedding

ANC's Dada Morero elected City of Johannesburg mayor unopposed

The ANC's Dada Morero is the City of Johannesburg's new mayor-elect after the ousting of Mpho Phalatse. Morero stood unopposed.

Phalatse has been voted out in a motion of no-confidence today.

Of the 145 councillors who signed the register, 139 voted to pass the motion

Today's developments come after a tumultuous period in which the Democratic Alliance's Vasco da Gama was voted out as speaker of the Johannesburg council.

On Thursday, new speaker Colleen Makhubele of Cope called a special sitting of council for today, just days after being elected.

Health dept considers solar power at health facilitiesa

Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla announced that the Health Department is considering a phased approach investment in renewable energy, specifically solar power installations at health facilities, as part of an energy mix.

South Africa is currently facing it longest bout of load-shedding, which is negatively affecting businesses and health facilities such as hospitals and clinics.  

Phaahla said the impact of load-shedding on the provision of healthcare services cannot be underestimated or overemphasised.

Some hospitals in Gauteng have been excluded from load-shedding.

Phaahla added that the exemptions were done in collaboration with his department, Eskom and municipalities.

Limpopo DA wants more hospitals excluded from load-shedding

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance in Limpopo called on Limpopo Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba to urgently speed up the process to exclude more hospitals in the province from power outages.

DA Limpopo spokesperson for health Risham Maharaj said Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla’s announcement that only four hospitals in the province were exempted from power outages is simply not enough.

He highlighted that the Limpopo Department of Health needs to ensure that as many hospitals as possible, if not all, must be exempted from power outages.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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