For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines: Johannesburg apartment fire kills 73; Ramaphosa to address nation on the success of Brics Summit; And, Ill-health prevents Gordhan from responding to claims of SAA valuation

Johannesburg apartment fire kills 73

Scores of people were killed overnight when a fire tore through a derelict Johannesburg apartment block occupied by homeless people, as emergency evacuations from the blackened building continued.

The fire killed over 70 people and injured 43, the municipal government said, in one of South Africa's worst such tragedies in living memory.

Johannesburg Emergency Management spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said the blaze, whose cause was under investigation, started at around 1:30 am.

At 10 am, the five-storey building was still smouldering, a large part of it blackened by soot, as emergency services gathered around it and bodies lay covered in blankets on a nearby street.

Municipal government speaker Colleen Makhubele implied those inside had been occupying it illegally, and that the city had sought but often failed to evict squatters from such buildings.

Ramaphosa to address nation on the success of Brics Summit

Cabinet announced today that President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on the 15th yearly Brics Summit and other important matters.

Last week, Ramaphosa hosted the three-day summit in Johannesburg, the first such summit to be held since the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent global restrictions.

Leaders of the Brics nations, which include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, reached a consensus on the Johannesburg II Declaration.

The declaration highlights inclusive multilateralism, peaceful development, mutually accelerated growth, sustainable development, people-to-people exchanges and institutional development.

The declaration addresses ongoing global conflicts, underlines the importance of resolving disputes through constructive dialogue and inclusive consultation, and also calls for fostering growth through partnership.

Cabinet expressed its appreciation to team South Africa, led by Ramaphosa, for ensuring the success of the Summit in content and logistics.

And, Ill-health prevents Gordhan from responding to claims of SAA valuation

The spat between Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and his former director-general, Kgathatso Tlhakudi, is far from over.

Gordhan was meant to respond today to allegations levelled against him by Tlhakudi in Parliament.

Tlhakudi accused Gordhan of wrongdoing in the SAA deal with Takatso.

But, at the eleventh hour, Gordhan informed the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises that he would not be able to attend the meeting.

In his letter, Gordhan said he could not attend the meeting due to ill-health and was advised by his doctor not to travel by air.

He asked the committee to provide him with an alternative date to allow him to respond to the allegations.

Gordhan also said his office would liaise with committee chairperson Khaya Magaxa and the secretary on setting a new date for the meeting.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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