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

Making headlines: Cosatu calls for national stayaway, digital Covid-19 vaccine certificate to go live later this week and, World Bank ups South Africa’s 2021 growth forecast

Cosatu calls for national stayaway

The Congress of South African Trade Unions has called for organised labour to join in a strike by staying away from work on Thursday in an effort to apply pressure on government and the private sector to "fix the economic mess that the country finds itself in".

The action coincides with the Global Day for Decent Work, but also comes as South Africa continues to struggle with lacklustre growth, rising unemployment, the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic and the after-effects of July's unrest.

The labour federation recently held its central committee last month, looking to renew its commitment to workers' rights.

Digital Covid-19 vaccine certificate to go live later this week

The Department of Health has asked the public to be patient as it prepares to officially launch the first version of the Covid-19 vaccination digital certificate later this week.

Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the Department of Health would roll out vaccine certificates which could be used proof of vaccination for those wishing to travel or access certain establishments.                         

Departmental spokesperson Foster Mohale said government is currently at the testing phase of the system to troubleshoot all possible glitches ahead of the official launch.

World Bank ups South Africa’s 2021 growth forecast

The World Bank expects South Africa to grow by 4.6% in 2021, an upward revision from its 3% April forecast and also a significant improvement on the bank’s 2.6% growth projection published in October last year.

The bank’s latest ‘Africa’s Pulse’ publication states that the growth in South Africa is projected to rebound from -6.4% in 2020 to 4.6% in 2021, supported by a favourable global environment and base effects.

The higher growth outlook is attributed to a “better performance in services, industry, and somewhat in agriculture”.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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