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

Making headlines: Heads expected to roll over IEC candidates list bungle in ANC meeting, Health Minister says relaxation of lockdown restrictions on the cards, and, US shipped more than 2-million Covid-19 doses to Kenya and Ghana

 

Heads expected to roll over IEC candidates list bungle in ANC meeting

The ANC's special national executive committee meeting today is expected to deal with who should be blamed for the party's failure to submit its candidates in at least 93 out of 278 municipalities.

The issue of which will result in a change of government or opposition without a single vote being cast. 

According to reports, at the top of the agenda is investigating, identifying and taking action on all those responsible for the failure to do so in such a multitude of municipalities. 

The meeting, ahead of the party's lekgotla, is expected to delve into the further embarrassment caused by the ANC's submission of a voluminous application to the Electoral Court to challenge the Electoral Commission of SA's decision not to extend the candidate registration deadline, which it abruptly withdrew on Tuesday evening.

 

Health Minister says relaxation of lockdown restrictions on the cards,

Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla said today there were discussions in government about reducing the level of the national lockdown restrictions to allow for more movement and more business activities.

Phaahla said government would try its best to reduce the mobility of people in areas with higher levels of infections.

He said the only way to reduce mobility is through various restrictions including curfew.

South Africa has been on adjusted alert level 3 of the national lockdown since July 26.

In the last 24 hours, the country recorded 418 new deaths, bringing the confirmed death toll to 82 914.

 

US shipped more than 2-million Covid-19 doses to Kenya and Ghana

The United States shipped more than 2-million doses of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine to Kenya and Ghana on Thursday through the COVAX global distribution programme.

The US sent 880 320 doses to Kenya, bringing the total number of doses sent to the African country to just over 1.76-million, the official said.

It sent over 1-million doses to Ghana, the first shipment to that country.

Africa has lagged sharply behind other regions in vaccinating its citizens, with most countries reporting single-digit vaccination rates, compared with much higher double-digit rates in advanced economies such as the United States.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter[@PolityZA]