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

Making headlines: eThekwini mayor Gumede preaches ‘Thuma Mina’ during budget speech, Brian Molefe failed to get go-ahead for massive Transnet locomotive price hike, inquiry hears and, Gordhan poised to return to Cabinet after Mkhwebane findings

 

eThekwini mayor Gumede preaches ‘Thuma Mina’ during budget speech

eThekwini Municipality mayor Zandile Gumede used the presentation of the city’s 2019/2020 budget on Wednesday to punt president Cyril Ramaphosa’s ‘Thuma Mina’ philosophy.

Gumede was presenting the R50.6-billion budget before a full council meeting at the Durban City Hall.

She said when people see poverty, hunger and unemployment, they must raise their hand and say Thuma Mina!

The mayor is currently out on R50 000 bail, after being criminally charged with graft earlier in the month.   

 

Brian Molefe failed to get go-ahead for massive Transnet locomotive price hike, inquiry hears

Transnet's former CEO Brian Molefe did not seek the required approval from the minister of public enterprises when the price for the acquisition of 1 064 locomotives was hiked by billions of rands.

This was heard at the commission of inquiry into State Capture, which has been investigating allegations of State capture, corruption and fraud since August 2018.

The 1 064 locomotives were meant to upgrade and modernise Transnet's fleet, but the contract has been dogged by allegations of kickbacks, fraud and irregularities after the price increased from R38.9-billion to R56-billion.

 

Gordhan poised to return to Cabinet after Mkhwebane findings

Pravin Gordhan seems poised to resume his Cabinet position as public enterprises minister, after filing a review application in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday seeking to set aside a report by the Public Protector which found he violated the Constitution.

This, despite an onslaught against Gordhan from within the ANC, from Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, and the newly-formed African Transformation Movement.

In the application, Gordhan slams Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane as being "unfit for office", "stunningly incompetent", "acting unconstitutionally" and issuing a report as part of a political campaign to prevent him being reappointed to Cabinet by Ramaphosa.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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