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

Making headlines: Ramaphosa appoints acting Minister in the Presidency; Civil rights groups disappointed with DBE’s failure to resume school nutrition programme; And, Survey reveals that 67% of SA adults likely to take the Covid-19 vaccine

 

Ramaphosa appoints acting Minister in the Presidency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has named Minister of Small Business Development Khumbudzo Ntshaveni as acting Minister in The Presidency, responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.

Ntshaveni’s appointment follows the death of Minister in The Presidency Jackson Mthembu.

She will continue with her responsibilities as Minister of Small Business Development.

 

Civil rights groups disappointed with DBE’s failure to resume school nutrition programme

Civil rights groups Equal Education, Equal Education Law Centre and SECTION27 are disappointed that Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has failed to resume the National School Nutrition Programme.

The organisations pointed out that many families are struggling to provide balanced meals for their children and many learners received their last regular meal when schools closed on December 15, 2020.

The organisations said providing school meals only when classrooms reopen on February 15 goes against the spirit of the court order they won in July 2020, which confirmed that the department must provide meals for learners even then they do not attend school.

 

And, Survey reveals that 67% of SA adults likely to take the Covid-19 vaccine

A survey by the University of Johannesburg and the Human Sciences Research Council, has shown that two-thirds of the country's adult population will be willing to take the Covid-19 vaccine.

The survey, done by the University of Johannesburg's Centre for Social Change and the HSRC's Developmental, Capable and Ethical State, used 10 618 participants and found that 67% would definitely or probably take a vaccine if it was available, while 18% of adults would definitely or probably not take a vaccine.

It was conducted between 29 December 2020 and 6 January 2021, using social media adverts to direct potential participants to the survey.

The most common reason among the 67% for accepting the vaccine was to protect themselves, while those who would not take the vaccine, and those who did not know if they would or not, cited worries about the effectiveness of it and the side-effects.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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