Daily Podcast – May 16, 2019

16th May 2019 By: Sane Dhlamini - Creamer Media Senior Contributing Editor and Researcher

Daily Podcast – May 16, 2019

Chief Justice Mogoeng-Mogoeng

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

Making headlines: Moody's says South Africa faces weak long-term growth outlook and rising debt, controversial names in the ANC heading to Parliament and, De Lille returns to Parliament and promises to fight inequality

 

Moody's says South Africa faces weak long-term growth outlook and rising debt

South Africa's new government faces significant challenges in raising growth, stabilising debt, and strengthening State-owned enterprises and institutions, Moody's Investors Service has said.

Moody's, the only one out of the three major ratings agencies that still has South Africa's credit standing at investment grade, said its economic growth would remain one of the lowest among Baa3-rated sovereigns.

After his ruling ANC retained power at last week's general elections, albeit with a reduced majority, President Cyril Ramaphosa is putting together a new cabinet that must pursue policies that kickstart the stuttering economy and help create new jobs in a country grappling with 27.6% unemployment.

 

Controversial names in the ANC heading to Parliament

The Electoral Commission of South Africa officially handed over the list of 830 elective representatives headed to Parliament to Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.

This comes after South Africa held its sixth national and provincial election on May 8. The ANC emerged victorious with over 10-million votes and 230 seats.

Among the list the ruling party has included a few controversial names of ANC members that will be heading to the National Assembly

Nomvula Mokonyane who is the current Minister of Environmental Affairs has recently been embroiled in the Bosasa corruption scandal unfolding at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.

Bathabile Dlamini, the Minister of Women in the Presidency was rocked by a few scandals in her term as Social Development Minister, which resulted in several calls for her to be axed.

Malusi Gigaba also made the cut despite his association with the controversial Gupta family whose corrupt activities precipitated the coining of the term "State Capture".

 

De Lille returns to Parliament and promises to fight inequality

GOOD party leader Patricia de Lille is returning to Parliament along with her former DA chief whip in the City of Cape Town, Shaun August.

GOOD received over 70 000 votes in last week's general elections, securing two seats in the National Assembly and one in the Western Cape legislature.

August stepped down from the DA council in support of De Lille last year. 

The former Cape Town Mayor said her party's mandate is to fight for spatial justice, social, economic and environmental justice.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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