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

Making headlines: Gauteng health department reviewing security vetting for senior officials amid PPE scandal, French firms set to make R14bn investment pledges to South Africa and, Trump claims premature victory

Gauteng health department reviewing security vetting for senior officials amid PPE scandal

The health department in South Africa’s Gauteng province is reviewing all security vetting processes for senior officials, amid concerns among opposition legislators that some have been appointed without passing a security audit.

The department has come under heavy scrutiny lately after its head Bandile Masuku was fired following a finding by the Special Investigating Unit that he had failed to take appropriate action on dodgy contracts for the provision of personal protective equipment related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jacob Mamabolo, who is currently acting in Masuku’s position, had indicated the review was underway while responding to questions in parliament.

French firms set to make R14bn investment pledges to South Africa

French Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness Minister Franck Riester, who is leading a business delegation to South Africa this week, reports that French firms will follow-up their R20-billion in investment commitments made to South Africa in 2019 with new promises worth a further R14-billion.

French companies made pledges worth a combined R20-billion during the second yearly South Africa Investment Conference, which took place in Gauteng, in November last year.

Riester indicated that the additional pledges would be made during the third South Africa Investment Conference, which is scheduled for November 17 and 18.

Trump claims premature victory

President Donald Trump claimed victory in the US presidential election and suggested Democrats were committing fraud as key states continued to count hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots.

President Trump said this is a fraud on the American public and an embarrassment to the country.

Trump claimed he is winning in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin that have just begun to count mail-in ballots likely to favour Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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