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

Making headlines: Nene asks Ramaphosa to relieve him of his position, Nzimande urges Prasa and rail regulator to resolve trains safety impasse out of court And, Parliament concerned about qualified audit on national student fund

 

Nene asks Ramaphosa to relieve him of his position

Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene has reportedly asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to relieve him of his position, as pressure mounts on him to resign following his disclosures last week of his meetings with the Gupta family.

A news agency reported today that Nene is believed to have made the request to Ramaphosa over the weekend.

Nene has been under intense pressure since his revelations at the Zondo commission of inquiry into State capture last week. He admitted to meeting the controversial Gupta family six times at their home between 2009 and 2014.

Nene is expected to deliver the mini-Budget in Parliament on October 24.

 

Nzimande urges Prasa and rail regulator to resolve trains safety impasse out of court

Transport minister Blade Nzimande today appealed to both the Railway Safety Regulator and Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa to find an out of court settlement in the interests of millions of commuters who use the Metrorail.

The regulator issued Prasa with a notice of intention to suspend its safety permit after two Metrorail trains collided in Kempton Park last week, injuring at least 320 people.

In a statement, Nzimande said he had not yet received a report from the RSR on the Prasa railway asset condition assessment report and the condition of its rail network.

 

Parliament concerned about qualified audit on national student fund

Parliament today expressed concerned that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme had regressed and received a qualified audit.

Chairperson of the legislature's portfolio committee on higher education and training Connie September said it would have to be convinced why the NSFAS executive management and audit committee should be retained and why the department of higher education and training should continue to oversee the entity.

The committee said the Public Finance Management Act was very clear on what remedies ought to be applied in the instance of irregular expenditure that was first assessed to be R1.3-billion, then later R284-million.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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