January,26 2017.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines:
Dlamini's social grant meeting no-show 'shameful' says DA
Dlamini-Zuma speaks out on Donald Trump's administration
And, Nzimande to report back on 2017 academic readiness

It was “shameful” that Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini skipped a crucial meeting yesterday to discuss the looming "Sassa crisis" to attend to ANC business, the DA said.

The IFP said Dlamini’s no-show was a clear indication that the “looming national crisis” was of no interest to her and that she had no plan to mitigate the crisis.

Dlamini and South African Social Security Agency CEO Thokozani Magwaza were due to tell Parliament’s social development committee if they were ready to take over the nationwide social grants scheme on April 1.

Committee chairperson Rose Capa yesterday said the meeting was cancelled because she, Dlamini and Magwaza were attending an ANC lekgotla.

African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has warned that a Donald Trump's administration threatened global progress on climate change and women's rights.

Africa should counter this by establishing the planned continental free trade area this year, she said.

In her last speech at the opening of the AU executive council of ministers' meeting yesterday, Dlamini-Zuma said: "We seem to be moving towards a multi-polar world as the US under the new administration threatens the consensus on climate change, attack hard-won women’s rights and move towards protectionism.

Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande is today set to brief media on the outcomes of talks he held about the state of readiness for the 2017 academic year.

The talks took place in the last week with various groups.

Earlier in the month, he indicated the department was ready for the new year.

There were more than 500 000 places available at tertiary institutions for young people to further their studies.

He outlined government’s plans to deal with the student fee crisis, which led to widespread violent protests in 2015 and 2016.

Also making headline:
Gambians ready to rebuild their country 'from scratch'

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today