For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines: ActionSA expands footprint in North West with merger; Ramaphosa calls for increased investment to maintain economic recovery; And, Ethiopia declares end of Marburg outbreak that killed nine

ActionSA expands footprint in North West with merger

ActionSA president Herman Mashaba today announced that his party will be joined by the Azanian Independent Community Movement and the Creatives Congress Movement, under the Green Umbrella Project.

Mashaba pointed to decades of communities facing incompetence, corruption, and broken promises from political parties.

Mashaba said the partnership between ActionSA, the Azanian Independent Community Movement and the Creatives Congress Movement will see ActionSA’s representation grow by seven councillors, expanding its reach in the North West, and establishing a presence representing a movement of artists and creatives to “champion innovative cultural initiatives, and strengthen the connection with diverse communities”.

Currently, ActionSA is represented by 23 councillors in the North West.

So far, the Green Umbrella Project has welcomed several political parties such as the Botho Community Movement; Capricorn Independent Community Activists Forum; Magošhi Swaragang Movement; Democratic Union Party and Forum 4 Service Delivery party.

ActionSA has grown from 91 public representatives to 141 represented across South Africa.

Ramaphosa calls for increased investment to maintain economic recovery

In his latest weekly newsletter President Cyril Ramaphosa said South Africa must build on the momentum of its economic recovery, and expanding investment is the key to a sustained shift in the country’s economic trajectory.

He highlights four consecutive quarters of growth, a steady reduction in unemployment and recent data from Statistics South Africa showing that levels of poverty and inequality have declined, as indicators of economic recovery.

Ramaphosa said confidence in the country’s economy is rising, the JSE has been performing well and the average inflation rate is the lowest in two decades.

He also cites the country’s exiting of the Financial Action Task Force grey list last year, as well as a sovereign credit ratings upgrade by S&P Global as positive developments.

Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum last week provided a prominent platform for South Africa to demonstrate the results of its reform story, business organisation Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busi Mavuso writes in her latest weekly newsletter.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana led a delegation of Ministers, leaders of industry and State agencies to the 2026 WEF meetings in Davos, Switzerland.

And, Ethiopia declares end of Marburg outbreak that killed nine

Ethiopia has declared the end of an outbreak of Marburg virus, the World Health Organisation said today, after the disease killed at least nine people.

The Horn of Africa country announced last year that the outbreak of the highly infectious disease similar to Ebola.

WHO said Ethiopia has officially declared the end of its first-ever Marburg virus disease outbreak following enhanced surveillance with no new confirmed cases.

Marburg often causes severe headaches and leads to haemorrhaging. Previous outbreaks in Africa have resulted in fatality rates as high as 80% or more of cases, typically within eight to nine days of the onset of symptoms.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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