For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: Ramaphosa sees more to gain from BRICS as he gears up for Leaders’ Summit, another Nelson Mandela Bay dam set to run dry as levels sit at 8% and, Ramaphosa remains mum on Phala Phala ahead of ANC meeting

Ramaphosa sees more to gain from BRICS as he gears up for Leaders’ Summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa will join the fourteenth BRICS Leaders’ Summit on Thursday.

He hopes to strengthen South Africa’s ties with the BRICS countries, particularly for job creation.

He highlighted the gains from the partnership in trade, tourism, health and food security.

South African trade with other BRICS countries reached R702-billion in 2021 up from R487-billion in 2017.

Ramaphosa said the value of South Africa’s membership of BRICS has grown substantially since it joined and he added that there is much to be gained from South Africa’s participation.

Another Nelson Mandela Bay dam set to run dry as levels sit at 8%

The drought-stricken Nelson Mandela Bay metro is set to lose yet another water source when the Churchill Dam is set to run dry on Friday, pushing the residents of four towns further to Day Zero.  

The water levels at Churchill Dam are sitting close to 8%.

Together with Loerie, Kouga, and Goendal, the dam levels are at 11.94%. 

The dams supply the towns of Gqeberha, Kariega, Despatch, and Colchester. 

DA councillor in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro who sits on the infrastructure and engineering panel, said projections showed that Churchill Dam would run dry on Friday.  

The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has also joined forces with the municipality and the humanitarian organisation, the Gift of the Givers, to help avert Day Zero.

Ramaphosa remains mum on Phala Phala ahead of ANC meeting

President Cyril Ramaphosa's refusal to share further details about the controversial burglary at his Phala Phala farm is expected to be a bone of contention at a planned ANC national working committee meeting today.

Former spy boss Arthur Fraser alleged that Ramaphosa covered up the February 2020 burglary at his farm where millions in US dollars were stolen.

The source of the money is now at the centre of a money laundering probe against the president.

This is expected to raise the ire of his political opponents in the party's top structure, who believe Ramaphosa is refusing to be held accountable.

But two insiders who have knowledge of discussions said Ramaphosa insisted that the police would fully investigate the matter.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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