International relations minister Naledi Pandor will on Monday host US secretary of state Antony Blinken in his first visit to SA as Washington looks to strengthen relations with Pretoria.
It is expected the meeting will focus on continuing and recent developments relating to global geopolitical affairs, including the Russia-Ukraine war. Other areas of focus will be health, climate and energy as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Blinken will also launch the Africa-United States Strategic Dialogue, which will serve as the new US strategy for Africa.
On Monday, transport minister Fikile Mbalula will roll out the Vala Zonke Potholes Programme, a labour-intensive project to fix potholes in all provinces.
The main launch will take place in Sedibeng, Gauteng. According to the department, this programme will entail “an integrated, rigorous and comprehensive plan” to improve the “overall condition index of roads at local and provincial authorities”.
On Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa will host an SA’s Women’s Day celebration in KwaZulu-Natal.
Later this week, the ANC in North West will host its provincial elective conference, kicking off on Friday. Four ANC heavyweights are vying for the position of provincial chair: premier Bushy Maape; former MP Nono Maloyi; the MEC for economic development, environment, conservation and tourism, Kenetswe Mosenogi; and interim provincial committee co-ordinator Hlomane Chauke. All are expected to stand for the chair in former premier Supra Mahumapelo’s erstwhile stronghold.
The three-day conference will be held at the Rustenburg Civic Centre after being postponed in July when more than 102 branches failed to hold their biennial branch general meetings and branch meetings on time.
The North West, Western Cape and Free State are the last three provinces to hold their elective conferences before the ANC’s internal leadership contest in December at which Ramaphosa is expected to seek a second term as party president.
In parliament, the hearings into suspended public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office are set to continue this week. The hearings have already heard testimony from various witnesses including former Sars executive Johan van Loggerenberg, former public protector office investigator Tebogo Kekana, and a former CEO in the public protector’s office, Vussy Mahlangu. Last week, Mahlangu testified that he was brought in between 2018 and 2020 to be Mkhwebane’s “henchman”. Additional witnesses are expected to testify when the hearings resume on Wednesday.
The home affairs committee will continue deliberations on Wednesday on the Electoral Amendment Bill, one provision of which will allow independent candidates to stand in national and provincial elections.
The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will on Thursday host a ministerial briefing session on high levels of criminality and violence in communities adjacent to areas with illegal mining activities. Members of the NCOP will engage with mineral resources & energy minister Gwede Mantashe, police minister Bheki Cele and home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi on measures the government is implementing to curb illegal mining and crime in affected areas.
maekot@businesslive.co.za
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