For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: DA calls on Minister in The Presidency to step down amid criminal investigation; Rand Water to embark on 24-hour maintenance on Germiston pipeline; And, Nigeria death toll from fuel truck blast reaches 86

DA calls on Minister in The Presidency to step down amid criminal investigation

The Democratic Alliance called on Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni to immediately step down following revelation that a Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation into her conduct as municipal manager of Ba-Phalaborwa local municipality, involving R2.5-million in tender corruption, is ready for prosecution.

Failing which, President Cyril Ramaphosa must relieve her of her duties, the party said.

The DA also called on the National Prosecuting Authority to proceed with their criminal prosecution of Ntshavheni.

The DA pointed out that this is yet another example of an African National Congress Minister in Ramaphosa’s Cabinet who he needs to remove for allegations of corruption.

Meanwhile, ActionSA called on Ramaphosa to suspend Ntshavheni.

Rand Water to embark on 24-hour maintenance on Germiston pipeline

Rand Water is preparing for planned maintenance work to repair a leak that was detected on the O2 pipeline beneath Nasmith road in Germiston, in Ekurhuleni municipality.

The O2 pipeline will be temporarily isolated, with the 24-hour project starting at 06h00 on January 25 until 06h00 on January 26 and impacting water supply to the cities of Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg, as well as the Madibeng local municipality.

Normal water pumping capacity from the Palmiet booster pumping station into the O2 pipeline will be reduced by 400-megalitres a day during the maintenance period.

This water supply reduction has the potential to have a negative impact on several Rand Water reservoirs, leading to lower water pressure or, in some cases, no water supply for the duration of the work.

And, Nigeria death toll from fuel truck blast reaches 86

The death toll from a fuel truck blast in Nigeria has reached 86, the director-general of the regional emergency agency said.

A petrol truck overturned and exploded on Saturday in Dikko, Niger State, killing people who had gone to scoop up fuel from the wreckage.

Eighty were buried in a mass grave at Dikko Primary Health Centre, while five bodies were retrieved by relatives, according to Abdullahi Baba-Ara, director-general of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency.

A further 55 people were injured.

A similar accident occurred in Jigawa State in October killing 147 people.

The price of fuel has soared since 2023 when President Bola Tinubu ended a fuel subsidy as part of economic reform.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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