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

Making headlines: IEC tells Parliament that Constitution doesn't allow for postponement of elections; Heads of State to deliberate on Mozambique security at Double Troika Summit; And, De Ruyter says it’s not about race, its all about performance & delivery

IEC tells Parliament that Constitution doesn't allow for postponement of elections

The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa says it must be ready to deliver free and fair elections when called to do so as the Constitution doesn't provide for an alternative.

The IEC delivered this message to the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

The committee also heard from the Municipal Demarcation Board, South African Local Government Association and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in the meeting, which started at 19:00 and adjourned close to midnight.

A concern was whether the coming local government elections would take place, given that the country is still in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Heads of State to deliberate on Mozambique security at Double Troika Summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa will, on Thursday, attend an Extraordinary Double Troika Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community in Maputo, in Mozambique, to deliberate on terrorism in the region following attacks in the Cabo Delgado province.

The summit has been convened by Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi in his capacity as chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

The Presidency said the SADC is deeply concerned about the continued terrorist attacks in Cabo Delgado, especially for the lives and welfare of the residents who continue to suffer from the atrocious, brutal and indiscriminate assaults.

Ramaphosa will be accompanied by Minister of International and Cooperation Dr Naledi Pandor, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Minister of State Security Ayanda Dlodlo.

And, De Ruyter says it’s not about race, its all about performance & delivery

Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter says appointments of senior managers at Eskom were not motivated by "ulterior racial motives" but rather by "performance and delivery", following a raft of allegations against him by now suspended chief procurement officer Solly Tshitangano.

This according to an affidavit De Ruyter wrote to Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts as part of an investigation into allegations of racism, abuse of power and irregularities brought by Tshitangano.  

Tshitangano accused De Ruyter of playing a part in the irregular appointments of two senior Eskom officials, as well as failing to comply with the Public Finance Management Act by failing to submit certain documents to National Treasury regarding the collusive practices between Sasol and embattled Eskom supplier Econ Oil.

De Ruyter denied the allegations in his affidavit, saying the matter hindered his ability to do his job.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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