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

Making headlines: EFF calls for expulsion of Trump's ambassador; Ramaphosa asks Motsoaledi to suspend Health DG; And, Eskom says delayed Medupi FGD report to be submitted to Minister in early April

EFF calls for expulsion of Trump's ambassador

The Economic Freedom Fighters and the African National Congress have condemned US ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell III’s utterances on South Africa's foreign policy and domestic laws, with the EFF calling for his expulsion as an Ambassador and for him to immediately be declared persona non grata.

The party believes Bozell has expressed contempt for the country, the President of South Africa, the legislature and South Africa’s judiciary.

Bozell has issued several warning regarding South Africa’s foreign policy and domestic laws.

He assumed office last month after being nominated by US President Donald Trump.

In an address to a Biznews 2026 conference Bozell outlined the US’s supposed frustration with South Africa for not adhering to requests on land expropriation, Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, the protection of white farmers and others.

The EFF said these requests were being made by the “child-killing war-mongering Donald Trump administration”.

Ramaphosa asks Motsoaledi to suspend Health DG

President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to place Departmental Director General Sandile Buthelezi on precautionary suspension following his arrest on allegations of fraud and theft.

Buthelezi was one of three senior officials who were arrested in an ongoing investigation into allegations of theft and fraud of over R1-million in public funds from the Department of Health.

He will remain on precautionary suspension until his cases are finalised or until his contract comes to an end.

National Health Insurance Deputy Director General Professor Nicolas Crisp will act as Director General for three months.

Meanwhile, Motsoaledi has also placed the Deputy Director General for Hospitals Services, Tertiary Health Services and Human Resource Development Dr Percy Mahlati on precautionary suspension until his cases are finalised, or until the expiry of his contract.

Department CFO Phaswa Mamogale is also on precautionary suspension until his cases are finalised.

And, Eskom says delayed Medupi FGD report to be submitted to Minister in early April

Eskom expects to submit its final benefit-cost analysis report on flue gas desulphurisation at the Medupi power station, in Limpopo, to Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Willie Aucamp in early April, having released a draft report on the air-pollution reduction technology and six alternatives for public comment in February.

The State-owned company acknowledged during a virtual consultation on the draft report this week that the submission had failed to meet the initial six-month deadline set in a directive issued by then Minister Dr Deon George in March last year.

That directive followed Eskom’s 2024 application for exemption from the sulphur dioxide minimum emission standards for Medupi, in which it also questioned the appropriateness of the FGD installation.

This despite it being a condition of a $3.7-billion loan to Eskom approved by the World Bank in 2010.

The exemption was granted until 2030, but the directive stipulated that the BCA for FGD at Medupi be expanded to include an assessment of alternatives to installing FGD, while comparing the cost of complying with SO2 standards with the human health costs of not complying.

The draft report, thus, includes not only BCA conclusions for the installation of Wet, Semi-Dry and Dry FGD technologies, but also six alternative emission-reduction scenarios.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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