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

Making headlines: Ramaphosa says government has been open & transparent throughout pandemic; One SA will support independent candidates in local government elections; And, Ramaphosa says there will be more stringent vetting of councillors at underperforming municipalities

Ramaphosa says government has been open & transparent throughout pandemic

President Cyril Ramaphosa reinforced the importance of keeping South Africans informed of vaccine acquisition developments, adding that government must be held to account for all decisions made around the vaccine.

Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly column to the nation that South Africa will soon be receiving its first consignment of Covid-19 vaccines from the world’s largest vaccine producer, the Serum Institute of India.

He noted concerns with government’s transparency on multilateral initiatives and direct negotiations with manufacturers.

He assured that, as government has done with the Serum Institute of India acquisition, details of deals with other manufacturers will be released following negotiations and when South Africa is released from communications terms of the non-disclosure agreements.

One SA will support independent candidates in local government elections

The One South Africa movement has announced that it will support, train, equip and campaign for independent candidates standing for ward councillors in the 2021 local government elections.

Founder Mmusi Maimane explained that the movement will not be on the ballot paper and independents will not be candidates for the movement.

He stressed that the movement was not a political party and assured that it would not become one.

While the movement cannot provide support to all independents across the country, in the coming days it will ask South Africans to identify candidates in wards they believe the movement should support.

And, Ramaphosa says there will be more stringent vetting of councillors at underperforming municipalities

The African National Congress has again reiterated its commitment to a vigorous screening of its councillors with President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing the stringent vetting of candidates in poor performing municipalities.

Ramaphosa said as local government elections approaches the Alliance need to select candidates for local government [who] are capable, experienced and are respected in their communities. He added that the agreement is that all existing councillors must go through an intensive evaluation, particularly in municipalities that have performed poorly or where there [are] allegations of corruption.

He added the party would need to speed up implementation of its decision to establish an ANC Electoral Committee to lead the candidate selection process.

Delivering his closing address at the NEC's virtual lekgotla, Ramaphosa said the party resolved to strengthen consequence management and accountability in municipalities through strengthening public accounts committees.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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