For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Trent Roebeck.

Making headlines: DA hits back at GNU partner ANC’s ‘Thatcherite’ critique of manifesto; NUM to oppose Eskom unbundling in court; threatens strike action; And, Kenya expects IMF visit soon, will discuss new programme request

DA hits back at GNU partner ANC’s ‘Thatcherite’ critique of manifesto

DA Federal Council Chairperson Ashor Sarupen has hit back at ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula’s criticism of the DA’s newly launched election manifesto, arguing that the ANC's reliance on “outdated ideological labels exposes its inability to challenge the DA’s substantive local government plans”.

Following the DA's launch of its local government manifesto, ahead of the upcoming municipal elections, Mbalula took to social media to pan the policy document.

Mbalula labelled the DA’s platform a "Thatcherite" manifesto, accusing the party of aiming to privatise the State.

He further noted that the DA’s inclusion in the current Government of National Unity was merely a byproduct of the ANC losing its outright majority.

Sarupen dismissed the remarks as a weak "tantrum", stating that the ANC has no real defence for its own record of failed governance.

NUM to oppose Eskom unbundling in court; threatens strike action

Labour union the National Union of Mineworkers says its legal team is preparing to take formal court action to challenge the decision to establish an independent transmission system operator.

President Cyril Ramaphosa approved the Eskom Restructuring Task Team Phase I Report on July 31.

The union states that its national executive committee strongly opposes transferring strategic assets, infrastructure, employees or operational functions from the National Transmission Company of South Africa to a new TSO.

Transferring transmission assets away from State-owned power utility Eskom risks fragmentation, increased private sector dominance and the gradual erosion of public control, the union says.

Restructuring must not come at the expense of jobs, working conditions, collective bargaining rights or public ownership, it states.

And, Kenya expects IMF visit soon, will discuss new programme request

Kenya is expecting an International Monetary Fund team to visit Nairobi soon for regular consultations, when the two sides will also discuss the country's request for a new support programme, its central bank governor said today.

Kenya requested a new IMF programme after its previous $3.6-billion deal ended in April last year.

Officials, including Governor Kamau Thugge, have in the past expressed interest in getting a new IMF programme that will include a lending component.

This comes a day after the central bank held its benchmark lending rate at 8.75% for the third policy meeting in a row.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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