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

Making headlines: Joburg Mayor confident work will continue despite Speaker’s removal, Health minister to visit Kalafong hospital amid anti-foreigner protests and, Gupta brothers still behind bars

 

Joburg Mayor confident work will continue despite Speaker’s removal

Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse has assured Johannesburg residents that the multi-party government will continue its work in the City despite the removal of Speaker Vasco Da Gama.

Da Gama is accused of being biased against the opposition and unlawfully appointing an acting secretary for the council.

He was removed during a vote of no confidence brought by the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania which was supported by the ANC.

It saw the multi-party coalition defeated by 136 votes.

 

Health minister to visit Kalafong hospital amid anti-foreigner protests

Phalatse said it was a shame that certain members of the coalition elected to vote in favour of the motion. She pointed to allegations of bribery.

Ahead of a visit from Health Minister Joe Phaahla, Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital CEO Sello Matjila said Operation Dudula protesters prevented suspected foreigners from accessing healthcare at the facility, despite an interdict against them.

For the past two weeks, protesters stationed themselves outside the entrance of the hospital where they prevented people from accessing the facility in Atteridgeville, in Pretoria if they were foreigners.

It is alleged that people were stopped and questioned on the basis of their complexion or the clothes that they were wearing.

Phaahla will conduct a site visit later today to "assess the impact of the current sporadic protests" on services despite an interdict obtained by the hospital last Friday.

 

Gupta brothers still behind bars

Rajesh and Atul Gupta are safely behind lock and key in the United Arab Emirates, but it is not clear how soon they will be in South Africa to face justice for state capture.

Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola informed the National Assembly that the brothers had applied for bail, but it was denied.

Responding to a question from African National Congress MP Xola Nqola, Lamola said on July 22, the official extradition request for the extradition of the brothers were handed over to the Central Authority in the United Arab Emirates.

Lamola said at this stage, the extradition proceedings are still ongoing in the UAE, and therefore sub judice but his department is engaging with the authorities in the UAE on an ongoing basis.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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