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

Making headlines: Ramaphosa says South Africa does not have a dysfunctional State; Forensic auditor's evidence to proceed after bid to delay evidence kicked out; And, increased social mobility, reduced inequality gaps will boost economic growth

Ramaphosa says South Africa does not have a dysfunctional State

President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured the country of the improvements government is making to better the lives of South Africans, saying while the country might face great challenges, it does not have a dysfunctional State.

Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly newsletter to the country that celebrating the start of the new year and new decade has given government an opportunity to reflect on its plans for 2020 and think deeply about its challenges.

The need to build a capable State is of utmost importance to government, he said.

He admitted that there were several obvious instances of service delivery failures, with many of the places he visited in the Northern Cape unable to provide social infrastructure and services owing to a small revenue base.

Forensic auditor's evidence to proceed after bid to delay evidence kicked out

PriceWaterhouseCoopers forensic auditor Trevor White is expected to proceed with his evidence at the State capture commission of inquiry after two people implicated in the so-called "Amigos" fraud case lost a bid to delay his testimony.

Former KwaZulu-Natal Treasury boss Sipho Shabalala and his wife, Beatrice, approached the commission to have White's testimony stayed on the basis that he is the main witness in the pending "Amigos" trial.

Advocate Khumba Shazi submitted that if White testifies today before he testifies in the trial court, untold prejudice will be inferred on his client. Shazi added that they are not asking for him not to testify but asking for delay of his testimony until the trial commences.

But commission chairperson, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, was concerned that granting such an order would set a precedent.

And, increased social mobility, reduced inequality gaps will boost economic growth

Increasing social mobility, a key driver of income equality, by 10% would not only benefit social cohesion but also boost economic growth by nearly 5% over the next decade.

The World Economic Forum’s inaugural Social Mobility Report has found that creating societies where every person has the same opportunity to fulfil their potential in life, irrespective of socioeconomic background, would not only bring huge societal benefits but would also boost economic growth by hundreds of billions of dollars a year.  

The report measured 82 economies against five "key dimensions", distributed over 10 pillars, that were necessary for creating social mobility. These include health, education, technology, work and protections and institutions.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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