News@3pm

ActionSA is warning against expanding the already bloated cabinet in South Africa, citing hypocrisy from the African National Congress and Democratic Alliance. The Department of Health continues contact tracing amid a monkeypox outbreak, with seven positive cases and two deaths so far. A petition to remove Democratic Alliance member Ronaldo Ghose from parliament has gained over 15,000 signatures. The South African Revenue Service advises taxpayers to update their banking details before the new tax season. Cuban Vice President Salvador Valdez-Mesa will visit Freedom Park in Pretoria ahead of the Presidential Inauguration. Freedom Park is a symbol of remembrance and resistance in South Africa. In your top stories this hour, ActionSA warns against a blotted cabinet. Minister Ramaphosa to welcome Cuba's vice president at Freedom Park. And health department continues with contact tracing amid M-pox outbreak. I'm Mulifi. Good afternoon. ActionSA has noted reports suggesting that African National Congress and Democratic Islands Government of National Unity intends to expand the size of an already blotted cabinet. This relates to reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa will expand the cabinet, currently compromising 30 saving ministers and 36 deputy ministers. The party highlighted that any increase would amount to hypocrisy in the light of pre-election promises from the key coalition partners to reduce the size of the cabinet. ActionSA's Adolf Trollope says an expanded cabinet will undermine public trust and cabinet commitments to curb profligacy and the principle of authenticity. Contradicts the very commitments to curb profligacy and the principles of accountability and transparency that both President Ramaphosa and the DEA have previously advanced. ActionSA views this as confirmation of our concerns regarding the haste with which the DEA and others sought to vacate the opposition benches for a seat at the table with the ANC, particularly concerning the resulting compromises that will see the best interests of South Africans being sacrificed for political expediency. ActionSA proposes any plan to expand the size of an already bloated cabinet and urges the ruling coalition to reduce the number of government departments to approximately 20. The Department of Health says contact tracing and health education activities across the country are continuing amid the outbreak of monkeypox in parts of the country. According to the department's spokesperson for Somalia, almost all the patients with the virus are living with chronic illness and compromised immune system. The total number of positive cases in the country stands at seven. The latest case was recorded in the Western Cape. Two people have died since the outbreak. A petition calling for the removal of Democratic Alliance member Ronaldo Ghose as a member of parliament has garnered over 15,000 signatures since its inception on June 16. The petition comes after racially charged videos of gulls created between 2008 and 2009 were surfaced. The video of the MP's YouTube channel are reactions to the Kill of the Boer song sung by the economic freedom fighter Julius Malema. Petitioners have called his comments divisive and harmful. The South African Revenue Service has warned taxpayers to check updates their banking details ahead of the new tax season. SARS warns that correct and up-to-date bank details are important if taxpayers is due for a refund. Taxpayers have until 30th of June to correct update their details. An assessment starts on the 3rd of July. The Acting Minister of Sports and Arts and Culture, Marubini Ramukhopa, will welcome Cuba Vice President Salvador Valdez-Mesa at Freedom Park in Pretoria this afternoon. The Cuban Vice President is in the country to attend the Presidential Inauguration tomorrow. He will also take the opportunity to visit Freedom Park, the most celebrated heritage knowledge center aimed at deepening accommodating the nation's experience. The Minister of Sports President, Litam Mpondwana says the engagement at Freedom Park will take place at 2 o'clock this afternoon. The Cuban Vice President is in the country to attend the Presidential Inauguration and will take the opportunity to visit Freedom Park, one of the country's most celebrated heritage and knowledge centers aimed at deepening and accommodating the nation's experiences and symbols to tell one coherent story. Freedom Park stands as a symbol of remembrance, reconciliation and resilience, preserving the memory of all those who fought against colonialism, apartheid and injustice. This engagement takes place on Tuesday 18th June at 2 p.m. at Freedom Park in Pretoria. That's all for this bulletin. For Madi Wiener Femme Radio, I am Malifi.