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

Making headlines: Godongwana to table 'inaugural' budget on February 23; DA urges Ramaphosa to immediately lift State of Disaster; And, DA says it supports Covid-19 vaccinations but opposes mandatory vaccination

Godongwana to table 'inaugural' budget on February 23

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will table the national budget on February 23.

The ministry of finance issued an advisory - highlighting that this would be the minister's "inaugural" speech.

Godongwana was appointed finance minister in August 2021, relieving his predecessor, Tito Mboweni, who requested to step down.

In a call with investors shortly after, Godongwana said he would lead differently to Mboweni but would stick to the fiscal framework. This was evident in the tabling of the medium-term budget policy statement, later in November.

DA urges Ramaphosa to immediately lift State of Disaster

Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen is calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to immediately lift the National State of Disaster, along with the remaining lockdown regulations.

On Wednesday, Ramaphosa said government would consider alternative legislative measures to the National State of Disaster.

Steenhuisen says the DA challenges the constitutionality of Section 27 of the Disaster Management Act - the mechanism that allows the government to make extra-Parliamentary laws under the declaration of a National State of Disaster.

That matter is currently before the Constitutional Court.

And, DA says it supports Covid-19 vaccinations but opposes mandatory vaccination

Democratic Alliance head of policy Gwen Ngwenya expressed her party’s strong support for Covid-19 vaccination to protect against hospitalization and death, however, she stressed that the DA is strongly opposed to mandatory vaccination.

She said evidence is emerging that vaccines are less effective at preventing transmission, as waves of infection are still occurring amongst highly vaccinated populations.

The party says the social risk that a policy of vaccine mandates seeks to address is relieving excessive pressure on hospitals owing to Covid-19.

However, Ngwenya added that a mandatory vaccine policy ignores evidence of some degree of natural protection through prior infection.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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