Making headlines: Ramaphosa says employment growth encouraging govt to do more to unlock investment; Zimbabweans welcome six-month SA exemption permit extension; And, David Makhura ready to hand over Gauteng premiership on undetermined date

Ramaphosa says employment growth encouraging govt to do more to unlock investment

President Cyril Ramaphosa said that while the country’s economy takes time to recover and while the reform programme is implemented, government will continue to pursue a range of complementary interventions to support job creation.

He said there were indications that the country’s economy was showing encouraging signs of recovery, and he cited the latest employment figures, which he said provided “cautious hope”.

South Africa saw a decline in the unemployment rate for the second quarter of 2022. According to Statistics South Africa, 15.5-million people were employed in the second quarter of 2022, up from 15.4-million in the fourth quarter of 2021.

New jobs were created in trade, finance, construction and community and social services.

Zimbabweans welcome six-month SA exemption permit extension

Zimbabweans living and working in South Africa under the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit have welcomed Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi's decision to extend their stay in the country by a further six months.

The permits, which were extended last year, by another year, were due to expire this December.

After considering numerous factors, including that only a few Zimbabweans have so far applied for other permits to regularise their stay in the country, Motsoaledi announced the six-month extension.

And, David Makhura ready to hand over Gauteng premiership on undetermined date

Gauteng Premier David Makhura says he is not being pushed out from power in the country's economic hub.

Makhura will leave his position as a premier, but it does not seem the African National Congress in Gauteng has a precise date on when this will happen.

The party held a special provincial executive committee meeting on Friday to discuss Makhura's departure.

There are talks that the former ANC provincial chairperson could possibly be replaced by Panyaza Lesufi.

Lesufi was recently elected as ANC provincial chairperson.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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