June 08, 2016.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.
Making headlines:

Nelson Mandela Bay metro passes R10.9bn budget

Gabon election to be held on August 27

And, SACP says KZN cabinet reshuffle was poorly handled

A Nelson Mandela Bay council yesterday passed a R10.9-billion budget for the 2016/17 financial year.

At a council meeting, budget and treasury portfolio chair Councillor Rory Riordan said that the metro was in a very strong financial position and that the administration would not be taking a loan out this year.

He said the metro was now able to pay its bills and hoped to receive an unqualified audit at the end of the year.

He said the cash reserves were currently sitting at R1.8-billion.

Riordan said that metro intended to turn Nelson Mandela Bay into Africa’s cultural centre.

Gabon will hold its election for a president on August 27, election authorities said yesterday.

President Ali Bongo, whose Gabonese Democratic Party had a firm grip on power, was expected to secure a second seven-year term in power.

Bongo is expected to win although some analysts had cautioned that frustration over wealth inequalities and political rivalries could spill over into unrest.

A tug-of-war between ANC and the SACP in KwaZulu-Natal over the SACP's provincial secretary Themba Mthembu's deployment as MEC has lifted the lid on its deeply fractured relationship.

The alliance partner also claimed the ANC disregarded its opinions on the cabinet reshuffle - which the SACP was against - and the political instability in the province.

SACP provincial treasurer Nomarashiya Caluza said they still felt that the whole matter was poorly handled.

On Monday KZN Premier Willies Mchunu reshuffled his cabinet and announced that Mthembu had been appointed to replace Cyril Xaba in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Also making headlines:

Zuma and Gordhan met yesterday to discuss State-owned firms before Fitch review.

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today