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

Making headlines: DA launches ‘Register to rescue South Africa’ campaign ahead of elections; VBS returns to haunt Shivambu as lawmakers find he didn't disclose payments; And, Cosatu slams increase in fuel, paraffin prices

 

DA launches ‘Register to rescue South Africa’ campaign ahead of elections

The Democratic Alliance has launched its 2024 voter registration campaign ahead of next year’s national and provincial government elections, with the first wave of the party’s registration posters under the slogan ‘Register to Rescue South Africa’.

The DA has warned that the African National Congress will remain in power if opposition voters do not register to vote. The party also noted that about 14-million South Africans are not registered to vote. The DA is hopeful of its chances of winning at next year’s elections given the results of the 2021 local government elections, where the ANC’s support dropped to 46% – losing its national majority for the first time.

The DA has condemned the rampant crime, corruption and loadshedding in the country and asserted that voter registration by the opposition could be a way of doing away with those issues.

DA leader John Steenhuisen said registering to vote could prevent the danger of an Economic Freedom Fighters/ANC coalition government.

 

VBS returns to haunt Shivambu as lawmakers find he didn't disclose payments

Economic Freedom Fighters deputy president Floyd Shivambu failed to disclose three payments from the now-defunct VBS bank, according to Parliament's acting Registrar of Members' Interests, advocate Anthea Gordon.

Gordon made this revelation in response to a complaint by the Democratic Alliance.

She said the complaint "related to the Venda Mutual Bank Society scandal".

The committee obtained an affidavit by the liquidator in the VBS liquidation matter which identified that three payments were made to Floyd Shivambu ... by Sgameka Projects – the company of Shivambu's brother, Brian – during 2017.

 

And, Cosatu slams increase in fuel, paraffin prices

The Congress of South African Trade Unions has expressed dismay over the rise in fuel and paraffin prices, asserting that this will be a painful blow to an already battered economy and a struggling working class.

The petrol price is expected to increase by 75c, diesel by R1.60 and paraffin by R1.50.

The trade union is concerned that the increases could spur inflation and compel the Reserve Bank to increase the repo rate, again. It also contends that low- and moderate-income families could plunge further into debt, constraining their purchasing power.

The sustainability of small, medium-sized, and microenterprises would be under threat along with the jobs of many employees in this sector, it warned.

The trade union has also urged the Department of Transport to consider the repositioning of the Road Accident Fund and the Road Accident Benefits Schemes Bill in Parliament owing to the fund’s dependency on “above-inflation increases for the fuel levy”.

Cosatu wants government to adjust social grants at the upcoming Medium Term Budget Policy Statement to protect workers from the effects of higher prices. The trade union also advocated for expanded subsidies to improve the quality and efficiency of the public transportation system in poorer communities.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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