August 31, 2016.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.
Making headlines:

BevSA calls on Health Minister to address sugar-sweetened beverages tax

Mantashe says ANC never received R80-million from Prasa

And, DA's Maynier thrown out of National Assembly after calling deputy minister an 'idiot'

The Beverage Association of South Africa yesterday called on Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi to address outstanding issues regarding sugar-sweetened beverages tax.

This came as Motsoaledi was due to make a speech last night to open the World Public Health Nutrition Association’s World Nutrition Congress in Cape Town.

BevSA had argued that the proposed tax on sugar-sweetened beverages had the potential to reduce the industry’s contribution to GDP by R14-billion and could trigger 62 000 to 72 000 job losses, doing more harm than good.

The ANC's secretary general Gwede Mantashe yesterday denied claims that the party received R80-million from Prasa.

The political party announced outcomes from its national working committee meeting, which sat on Monday to discuss a number of issues, including the public spats between Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and specialised policing unit the Hawks as well as between Treasury and energy provider Eskom.

An exclusive News24 exposé implicated the ANC as a beneficiary in the purchase of the rail agency's new trains where entities who were not creditors to Prasa received R80-million.

DA MP David Maynier was yesterday thrown out of the National Assembly after refusing to withdraw his statement that Deputy Minister of Defence Kebby Maphatsoe was an idiot.

The drama came after ANC MP Bheki Radebe objected to Maynier's statement.

Maynier said Maphatsoe attacked Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan because Gordhan decided to stand up against looting.

Also making headlines:

Denel defied Treasury on VR Laser, a joint venture linked to the controversial Gupta family.

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That's a roundup of news making headlines today