Daily Podcast – October 23, 2017

23rd October 2017 By: Sane Dhlamini - Creamer Media Senior Contributing Editor and Researcher

Daily Podcast – October 23, 2017

Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba
Photo by: Duane Daws

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.
Making headlines: Gigaba to deliver inaugural medium-term budget, DA to keep hawkish eye on any nuclear deal movements And, Mugabe removed as World Health Organisation goodwill ambassador after outcry

Gigaba to deliver inaugural medium-term budget

All eyes will be fixed on South African Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba this week when he delivers his first Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement amid concerns about the fiscal challenges, widespread perceptions of government corruption and wasteful expenditure.

Gigaba, who took over the reins of National Treasury following the controversial firing of Pravin Gordhan in April, will have his work cut out for him as he sets out the fiscal policy objectives and spending priorities over the three-year expenditure period.

Allegations of misuse of workers’ pensions, which total almost R1.9-trillion in the Public Investment Corporation coffers had sent jitters through South African markets.

 

DA to keep hawkish eye on any nuclear deal movements

The DA will keep a close watch for any developments on the proposed R1-trillion nuclear build deal and will not hesitate to go to court to interdict it if the process is tainted, the party said yesterday.

DA spokesperson Gordon Mackay said the allegations in the media yesterday regarding the high-level Russian delegation who met with President Jacob Zuma shortly before the second cabinet reshuffle in seven months which saw David Mahlobo appointed as energy minister, ostensibly to push through the nuclear deal in favour of the Russians, are startling to say the least.

 

Mugabe removed as World Health Organisation goodwill ambassador after outcry

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has been removed as a World Health Organization goodwill ambassador yesterday following an outrage among donors and rights groups at his appointment.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who made the appointment at a high-level meeting on non-communicable diseases in Uruguay on Wednesday, said in a statement that he had listened to those expressing concerns.

Also making headlines:

Presidential hopeful Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s backers have labelled reported links between her and alleged illicit flows of funds by the Gupta family as a "clear" attempt to block her from ascending to the party’s top post.

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today