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

Making headlines: Ekurhuleni mayor Tania Campbell to extend hand to opposition, Steenhuisen says EFF and ActionSA support for DA candidates came with no strings attached and vaccine uptake slows amid surge in new cases

Ekurhuleni mayor Tania Campbell to extend hand to opposition

A shocked but elated Tania Campbell says her journey ahead as the mayor of Ekurhuleni will be challenging as her success will rely heavily on opposition political party support.

Campbell beat the odds and stunned those gathered at the Ekurhuleni council sitting on Monday evening when she was elected mayor. She was elected with 116 votes.

Her rival and former mayor Mzwandile Masina got 105 votes.

In an acceptance speech shortly after taking the oath, Campbell said her focus would be on fixing a municipality facing service delivery concerns which are water and electricity crisis.

Steenhuisen says EFF and ActionSA support for DA candidates came with no strings attached

DA leader John Steenhuisen assured Johannesburg residents that there will be “absolutely no compromise” on the party’s principles in order to stay in government, explaining that the party did not solicit the support of the EFF or ActionSA for its candidates in metros.

The DA scored surprise mayorship of Joburg and Ekurhuleni, toppling the ANC in both metros, following a spontaneous vote of support from other opposition parties.

Dr Mpho Phalatse was elected the Mayor of Johannesburg and Vasco Da Gama elected Council Speaker.

vaccine uptake slows amid surge in new cases

The health department says The uptake of first-dose vaccinations has remained 20% lower than during the municipal elections at the beginning of November.

On Monday, the health department administered 110 604 vaccine doses, of which 55 353 were first doses.
This has inched the country closer to reaching the 25-million vaccination mark.

As of Monday, more than 24-million jabs had been administered.

The department said 355 902 children have received one vaccine dose.

The slowing of the vaccination drive comes as the National Institute for Communicable Diseases flags an uptick in cases, driven by a cluster outbreak in Gauteng.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today
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