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

Making headlines: South Africa's unemployment rate hits record 34.4%, SIU confirms slain Gauteng Health official was witness in PPE investigation and, Ramaphosa invited by Merkel to attend G20 Compact with Africa meeting

 

South Africa's unemployment rate hits record 34.4%

Unemployment has hit a record high of 34.4%, or 7.8-million jobless people.

Stats SA released the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the second quarter today.

It is the highest unemployment rate recorded since the survey started in 2008.

The expanded definition of unemployment - which accounts for those discouraged from seeking work - has increased 1.2 percentage points to 44.4%. 

Last week, Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago noted that the recovery in employment levels following the pandemic was lagging behind the GDP recovery.

 

SIU confirms slain Gauteng Health official was witness in PPE investigation

Financial official in the Gauteng Department of Health Babita Deokaran, who was shot outside her home, in Johannesburg, yesterday, was a witness in the Special Investigating Unit’s personal protective equipment probe.

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago confirmed today that Deokaran was a witness.

She died in hospital on Monday afternoon.

Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi expressed the department's shock and sadness at Deokaran’s death and sent condolences to her family and colleagues.

 

Ramaphosa invited by Merkel to attend G20 Compact with Africa meeting

President Cyril Ramaphosa has been invited by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to attend a G20 Compact with Africa meeting in Berlin to promote private investment into the African continent.

As South Africa is a member of the G20 it will co-chair the initiative with Germany.

Ramaphosa will travel to Germany on Wednesday to attend the CwA on Thursday and Friday accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Dr Naledi Pandor.

He will also meet with Merkel to discuss bilateral and regional issues.

The conference is also expected to discuss vaccine production in Africa.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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