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

Making headlines: Ramaphosa backtracks on US role in G7 Summit snub; Motshekga calls for expanded role for women and youth in defence value chain; And, cholera aid for African countries stalled by Iran conflict

Ramaphosa backtracks on US role in G7 Summit snub

South Africa walked back its claim that US pressure led to its disinvitation from an upcoming Group of Seven summit in France.

Pretoria’s presidency spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, had said that an invitation to attend the meeting scheduled to take place in June had been withdrawn because of “sustained pressure” from Washington. Hours later, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country hadn’t been snubbed.

The US State Department said it hadn’t requested that South Africa be shut out of the G7 meeting.

The South African presidency’s initial statement suggested a new flashpoint in already strained ties with the US. Relations have deteriorated sharply since Donald Trump’s return to the White House last year, with the US president falsely accusing Pretoria of subjecting White farmers to a genocide and seizing their land, denouncing its relations with Iran, and rejecting its Black economic-empowerment policies.

Motshekga calls for expanded role for women and youth in defence value chain

Boosting the participation of women in the defence industry value chain is an economic and strategic necessity that will strengthen South Africa’s security, local industry, innovation and advanced manufacturing, said Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga.

Although women occupy about 48% of research positions in Africa, they remain under-represented in the defence sector, highlighting a significant pool of untapped talent that could be deployed in the highly technical defence and related industries.

Greater participation by women would expand the industry, enhance research, design, leadership and innovation, and improve global competitiveness, Motshekga told delegates at the State-owned arms procurement agency Armaments Corporation of South Africa Women and Youth supplier information day.

However, increasing women’s participation required South Africa to overcome persistent barriers and improve access to information and markets.

She added that advancing the capabilities within the industry would require investment in skills development, research and innovation, which were essential for a high-technology industry.

And, cholera aid for African countries stalled by Iran conflict

Emergency cholera medical supplies for several African countries have become stuck in a logistical quagmire caused by the Iran war, aid officials have said, raising concerns about preparations ahead of the high-risk rainy season.

The stocks stranded in Dubai warehouses are contingency supplies placed in cholera-prone countries including Chad and Sudan ahead of the rainy months starting from May to curb any future outbreak of the fast-spreading, potentially fatal diarrhoeal disease.

Both the World Health Organization and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies told Reuters that some of their African cholera supplies were stuck in a Dubai backlog. They are trying to either fly them out - at 70% above the normal rate - or buy replacements.

The kits create mini field hospitals for thousands of people with rehydration treatments as well as chlorine to treat sewage and drinking water to prevent further spread.

IFRC's Danielle Brouwer said five cholera kits to treat 3 000 people a month intended for Chad, which hosts camps for Sudan's war refugees, are among those affected as well as tents for cholera patients in South Sudan.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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