For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Shomolekae.

Making headlines: Gauteng DA leads march against GBV, demands action; South Africa needs more resilience to climate change; And, Ethiopia names Fitsum as new finance minister

Gauteng DA leads march against GBV, demands action

More than 2 000 DA supporters marched through Tshwane today to demand immediate government action against gender-based violence and murder in the province.

Led by Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink, the march ended at the Kgoši Mampuru II Correctional center, with a procession of 12 funeral vans, symbolising the statistic of 12 murders a day in Gauteng.

The demonstration comes amid heightened urgency following the grim discovery of 12 murdered women across the City of Ekurhuleni between September and October, an ongoing investigation being handled by the South African Police Service.

Brink criticised recent police advisories that urged women to take personal safety precautions, such as altering their routes, staying indoors at night, or changing how they carry their phones.

Brink said the people of South Africa don’t need 'advice' on how to avoid crime; they need government action to tackle crime. The responsibility for preventing violent crime cannot be placed on victims, he said.

South Africa needs more resilience to climate change

South Africa needs to strengthen its resilience against climate change, highlighted Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment chief policy adviser for international governance and resource allocation Stuart Mangold today. He was addressing the Climate Finance Accelerator 2026 South Africa Investor Engagement Event, in Cape Town.

South Africa was at an important moment. The Just Energy Transition was under way, with the support of international partners. The country had to address climate impacts, water scarcity and environmental degradation, and stimulate green industrialisation, while meeting the challenges of inequality, job creation and socioeconomic development.

The country was seeking to address climate change in a holistic manner. Partnerships with the private sector and international agencies were essential. But South Africa needed better coordination between public and private investment in climate resilience and green development. There was a need to ensure that climate finance was properly and effectively used to strengthen the country's resilience while ensuring that the transition was just.

The country needed risk-taking entrepreneurs to develop and advance green technologies and to transform the economy. Academia was also needed, to provide the skilled people needed to execute this transition.

And, Ethiopia names Fitsum as new finance minister

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed today named Fitsum Assefa Adela as finance minister in his new cabinet, replacing Ahmed Shide who has become speaker of the lower house of parliament.

Fitsum was formerly minister of planning and development.

The Horn of Africa country is reworking its external debt under the G20's Common Framework and is gradually opening up its economy to more private investment.

Ethiopia defaulted on its sole Eurobond in 2023 and earlier this year struck a preliminary restructuring deal with private creditors.

Abiy named the chief executive of state-owned Ethio Telecom, Frehiwot Tamiru, as minister for innovation and technology. Mohammed Edris was made minister of defence.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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