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

Making headlines: Ramaphosa announces Women’s Economic Assembly to ensure women’s participation in economy, 809 new cases and 27 new deaths recorded in South Africa and, Ethiopian parliament confirms Abiy Ahmed as prime minister

Ramaphosa announces Women’s Economic Assembly to ensure women’s participation in economy

As part of the country’s efforts to ensure the full and equal participation of women in the economy, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced today that the country will hold its first-ever Women’s Economic Assembly later this week.

The Economic Assembly will convene in Gauteng and will consider how supply chains can be used to benefit women-owned businesses and address policy impediments to women’s economic empowerment.

The Assembly will also improve access to financing for women-owned businesses, especially rural enterprises.

Ramaphosa said the country has made progress in promoting equality for women in areas like government, civil society, the administration of justice, sport and culture, adding that unfortunately, the same progress in the economy has not be achieved.

809 new cases and 27 new deaths recorded in South Africa

South Africa recorded 809 new confirmed Covid-19 infections and 27 deaths, bringing the confirmed death toll to 87 780.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, as of Sunday, the country recorded 2 906 422 laboratory-confirmed cases.

This represents a 3.4% positivity rate.

Gauteng recorded 916 848 cumulative confirmed cases as of Sunday, KwaZulu-Natal recorded 512 549 and the Western Cape recorded 510 654.

Ethiopian parliament confirms Abiy Ahmed as prime minister

Ethiopia's parliament has confirmed incumbent Abiy Ahmed as prime minister for a five-year term on Monday, cementing his power domestically amid mounting international concern of his government's handling of the conflict in northern Ethiopia.

Abiy's party won a landslide victory in June's election.

President Sahle-Work Zewde told parliament that government priorities included easing inflation - which has hovered around 20% this year - and the cost of living, as well as reducing unemployment.

On Thursday, Ethiopia announced it was expelling seven senior United Nations officials and gave them 72 hours to leave, a move the UN rejected.           

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter [@PolityZA]