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

Making headlines: First batch of Covid-19 vaccines en route from India; Zuma says he won’t appear before the Zondo commission; And, Ramaphosa’s AU chairmanship comes to an end

 

First batch of Covid-19 vaccines en route from India

South Africa’s first consignment of Covid-19 vaccines will arrive in the country today, from the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer.

One-million doses of the long-awaited Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine will be rolled out to frontline health workers, as part of government’s phased approach to distributing vaccines.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Vaccines, chaired by Deputy President David Mabuza, will coordinate the vaccine programme, the aim during the first phase being to vaccinate 1.2-million frontline workers, with the ultimate aim of achieving herd immunity across the population.

 

Zuma says he won’t appear before the Zondo commission

Former President Jacob Zuma has said that he will not comply with the State capture commission of inquiry and will not appear before the commission as requested, defying a Constitutional Court judgment.

He said in a statement that he was not scared of being arrested or sent to jail for his decision.

Zuma, who initiated the State capture commission, said he was being singled out.

He recently tried to apply for Deputy Justice Raymond Zondo to recuse himself on the grounds that Zondo had family ties with him.

 

And, Ramaphosa’s AU chairmanship comes to an end

As President Cyril Ramaphosa prepares to hand over the reins as African Union chair to the Democratic Republic of Congo later this week, he said South Africa was honoured to lead and will leave the continental body in a position of greater strength.

Ramaphosa reflected on his position this time last year in his weekly letter to the nation.

He said South Africa’s term was a baptism of fire, having assumed the Chairship in the same month the first case of coronavirus was reported on the continent.

He added that South Africa would continue to foster African integration and support the incoming Chair and the organisation to meet the aspirations of the AU’s Agenda 2063.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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