September 13, 2024.

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I am Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines:

Tributes continue to pour in for Pravin Gordhan

Ramaphosa says BELA Bill signing reflects Gordhan’s vision for equality

And, WHO clears Bavarian Nordic's vaccine as first shot against mpox

Tributes continue to pour in for Pravin Gordhan

Fellow politicians and others have expressed deepest condolences on the passing of former Minister of Public Enterprises and South African Revenue Service Commissioner Pravin Gordhan.

Gordhan passed away at the age of 75 in the early hours of this morning, following a period of illness.

His family said he passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by those closest to him, including his lifelong comrades in the liberation struggle.

The African National Congress urged its members and citizens to honour Gordhan’s memory by reaffirming their commitment to the "ideals of a united, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa.

Eskom board chairperson Mteto Nyati described Gordhan as "a pivotal figure in Eskom’s transformation", noting his part in initiating the legal separation of Eskom into Generation, Transmission, and Distribution entities.

Transnet's board of directors, appointed by Gordhan in July 2023, said it would remember him as a "discipled and principled leader", who believed in a higher purpose, and wanted all public servants to strive towards that.

Ramaphosa says BELA Bill signing reflects Gordhan’s vision for equality

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa remembered Gordhan as a principled and courageous freedom fighter, and said that the signing of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill would affirm Gordhan’s vision of a just and equal society, to which he dedicated his life.

Despite strong contestation against the Bill, Ramaphosa signed it into law at the Union Buildings, saying it was an important step in resolving challenges in the country’s education system.

The Democratic Alliance, AfriForum, and the FW de Klerk Foundation have all hit back strongly against the Bill, now an Act, which they say will take away powers relating to language and admissions policies from school governing bodies.

However, the implementation date for clauses 4 and 5 of the Bill will be delayed by three months, to allow for further engagement on the matter. Ramaphosa warned that if parties cannot agree on an approach, then those parts of the Bill will be implemented.

AfriForum and the DA said they would head to court if the clauses were implemented.

WHO clears Bavarian Nordic's vaccine as first shot against mpox

The World Health Organization said today it has cleared Bavarian Nordic's vaccine as the first shot against mpox.

The approval, known as a pre-qualification, is an official list of medicines used as a benchmark for procurement by developing countries.

Mpox, a viral infection that spreads through close contact and is usually mild but can kill, was declared a public emergency of international concern by the WHO last month.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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