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

Making headlines: Scientists monitoring new virus variant detected in SA, Botswana , Ramaphosa to chair inter-Ministerial committee to oversee R131 billion just transition offer and, GBVF is a manifestation of gender inequalities in society 

Scientists monitoring new virus variant detected in SA

A new variant of the virus that causes Covid-19 has been discovered in three countries, including South Africa. 

Ten cases have been reported so far.

The variant B.1.1.529 has 32 mutations in the spike protein.

Mutations refer to individual changes in the virus' genetic code. 

Three of the 10 cases have been sequenced in Botswana, six have been found in South Africa and one case is that of a 36-year-old Hong Kong traveller who returned from South Africa.

Ramaphosa to chair inter-Ministerial committee to oversee R131 billion just transition offer

President Cyril Ramaphosa will chair an inter-Ministerial committee that is being established to coordinate further work on the country’s just transition plan, as well as the R131-billion climate-finance offer made to South Africa at the recent COP26 climate gathering.

Following a briefing on the outcomes of the Glasgow summit by Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy this week, Cabinet welcomed what it described as the “historic Just Transition Partnership” established with France, Germany, the UK, the US and the European Union and announced at COP26.

Cabinet also acknowledged the offer of the partnership to mobilise R131-billion over the next three to five years to support South Africa’s just transition plans.

GBVF is a manifestation of gender inequalities in society 

The Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said that gender-based violence and femicide is a manifestation of gender inequalities in society.

The Minister was speaking during the launch of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign in Pimville, in Johannesburg today. 

This year’s theme is ‘Charlotte Mannya Maxeke, 16 Days of Activism – moving from awareness to accountability’.

The 16 Days of Activism is a yearly United Nations campaign which takes place on  November 25.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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