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

Making headlines: Bathabile Dlamini faces resistance over calls for ANCWL to support Magashule, ANC activists back Magashule’s suspension and, Worrying, Covid-19 increases in some districts

Bathabile Dlamini faces resistance over calls for ANCWL to support Magashule

A meeting of the African National Congress Women's League on Thursday night saw a fiery debate over whether it should march in support of suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule.

A virtual meeting of its national working committee met to discuss the drama rocking the ANC, which now also includes Magashule, in his capacity as secretary general of the organisation, seeking to suspend ANC and State President Cyril Ramaphosa.

A source with knowledge of the meeting said that ANCWL president Bathabile Dlamini noted in her opening address the women of the ANC could not sit back while party leaders were fighting.

Magashule has defied his suspension from the party which was imposed following his resistance to stepping aside from his position pending the outcome of his criminal trial.

Activists back Magashule’s suspension

A group of ANC activists, known as the Strategic Dialogue Group, on Friday gave its support to the recent decision taken by the ANC’s National Working Committee to suspend party members facing charges of corruption, including secretary-general Ace Magashule.

In an exclusive interview with Polity, SDG member Dr Billy Ramokgopa said Magashule failed dismally to lead by example and in the process severely dented the image of the ANC and South Africa.     

Magashule was informed of his suspension by ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte on Monday.         

The SDG said those who appreciate the values and policies of the ANC could not object to the resolution.

Worrying, Covid-19 increases in some districts

South Africa recorded 2 149 new Covid-19 cases and 46 deaths on Thursday.

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize says the department has "noticed a worrying trend of increasing numbers of detected cases in a number of districts".

The cumulative number of cases has now increased to over 1.5-million with the total deaths sitting at 54 620.

Among the districts flagged by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases as "under observation" because of a rise in the last 14 days include Mangaung, Fezile Dabi and Xhariep in the Free State, City of Johannesburg metro, Sedibeng, City of Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, in Gauteng.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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