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

Making headlines: ANC seen avoiding populist partners post election; Ramaphosa to visit George building collapse site; And, SACP says signing of NHI Bill a watershed moment

ANC seen avoiding populist partners post election

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress is likely to win 44.8% of the vote in this month’s national election and will be loath to invite populist rivals into a governing coalition, according to research group Krutham.

The predicted vote outcome, based on an analysis of opinion polls and municipal by-election results as well as discussions with political parties, will enable the ANC to form an alliance with malleable smaller parties, Krutham said in a report released today.

The ANC would prefer a tie-up with the biggest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, to partnering with groups that splintered from its ranks, it said.

With the May 29 election set to be the tightest since apartheid ended three decades ago and a number of polls forecasting the ANC will lose its national majority for the first time, investors are focusing on who its prospective partners might be.

The prospect of an alliance with the Economic Freedom Fighters or the uMkhonto weSizwe Party has raised concern among investors. Both parties splintered from the ANC and advocate land expropriation, widespread nationalisation and a reversal of efforts to decarbonize the economy.

Krutham sees the DA winning 22.7% of the vote, the EFF 9.8%, the MKP 7.7% and the IFP 4%.

Ramaphosa to visit George building collapse site

President Cyril Ramaphosa will visit the George disaster site tomorrow, following the fatal collapse of the the partially built residential building, in the Western Cape.

Rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing into the second week after the collapse of the George building, with the death toll standing at 33, as at 6am yesterday.

According to the latest statistics released by George Municipality, of the estimated 81 workers who were on site at the time of the incident on May 6, 61 people have been rescued or recovered, while 20 are still unaccounted for.

Since the fatal incident, government and its disaster management agencies at all levels have mobilised personnel and resources towards the rescue efforts and have provided support to the survivors and families of the deceased.

Spokesperson to the President Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa remains deeply attentive to the rescue and recovery efforts and has expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the deceased workers.

And, SACP says signing of NHI Bill a watershed moment

The South African Communist Party today lent its support through a picket at the Union Buildings in Tshwane, as President Cyril Ramaphosa signs the National Health Insurance Bill into law.

Ramaphosa signed the Bill into law amid criticism, with business and political parties expressing disappointment with the decision.

Government said it hopes to use the NHI to achieve universal coverage for health services and, through this, overcome socioeconomic imbalances and past inequities.

The SACP said the NHI era must represent an irreversible rupture with the present “unequal two-tiered healthcare regime”, which it said is underpinned by income and wealth inequalities.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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