February 14, 2024.

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

 

Making headlines:

Dan Plato leaves DA for People's Movement for Change

ActionSA files motion of no confidence against Ekurhuleni mayor

And, Ghana president replaces finance minister in reshuffle

 

Dan Plato leaves DA for People's Movement for Change

The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape has noted the resignation of former Cape Town mayor and Safety MEC Dan Plato from the party, as he finds a new political home with the People's Movement for Change, led by Marius Fransman.

Plato resigned as Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament and member of the DA after he accused the DA of moving away from its commitment to serving the needs of the poor and vulnerable.

Plato expressed concerns about the DA's “loss of identity” as a political home for the poor and working class, alleging that the party suppresses voices that do not align with a certain group.

Additionally, Plato criticised the DA's stance on pro-Palestine voices within the party.

The DA said it noted the resignation and DA Provincial Leader in the Western Cape Tertuis Simmers said the party thanked Plato for his years of service, both to the DA, and at different levels of government.

 

ActionSA files motion of no confidence against Ekurhuleni mayor

ActionSA in Ekurhuleni has filed a motion of no confidence against Mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana and his team of MMCs, in a bid to “save the metro from the brink of collapse”.

The party noted that since Ngodwana’s appointment, with the help of the African National Congress, Economic Freedom Fighters and minority parties in March 2023, service delivery and the City’s financial standing had deteriorated.

The motion will now serve before Council's programming committee, and once approved, will be tabled at the February Council meeting for a vote.

ActionSA has been a vocal opponent of Ngodwana’s tenure as mayor, which saw the EFF join the City’s political leadership for the first time.

The Democratic Alliance in Ekurhuleni agreed with ActionSA's sentiments that service delivery has all but collapsed and that the city’s finances have been eroded since the ANC/EFF coalition took over in March last year, however, it will await official council processes and should any motions of no confidence appear on the agenda to be debated at the next council meeting.

 

Ghana president replaces finance minister in reshuffle

Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo has replaced the finance minister in a cabinet reshuffle amid criticism of his handling of the country's economic problems.

The move, announced today by the president's office, comes ahead of an election in December.

Outgoing finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been overseeing the government's debt restructuring efforts as the West African country tries to emerge from its worst economic crisis in a generation.

Akufo-Addo's office said Ofori-Atta would be replaced by Mohammed Amin Adam, currently the minister of state at the finance ministry.

Amin Adam previously served as the deputy energy minister responsible for the petroleum sector.

Akufo-Addo chose Ofori-Atta as his finance minister when he became head of state in 2017, pledging to create jobs, fight poverty and boost economic growth by cutting taxes and red tape.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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