5 important things happening in South Africa today

Here’s what is happening in and affecting South Africa today:

• Eskom’s sluggish transmission rollout: Eskom fell short of its goal to build new transmission lines in the last year. Of the 166km planned for the 2023/24 fiscal year, only 74km were completed, and none were activated. Critics say Eskom’s plan is not ambitious enough, highlighting the need for much more infrastructure to tackle energy shortages and shift to cleaner energy. The plan calls for building 1,400km of lines each year for a decade, a target analysts consider unachievable currently. [News24]]

• Court interdicts SARS’ cigarette CCTV plan: The Pretoria High Court has halted the South African Revenue Service’s (SARS) plan for 24/7 surveillance in cigarette warehouses after a challenge by producers, represented partly by the Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association (Fita). They argued that the August 2022 rule mandating constant CCTV surveillance infringes on privacy, dignity, and property rights. [Moneyweb]

• Zuma corruption trial back in court: Former president Jacob Zuma’s corruption trial is expected to be back in the Pietermaritzburg High Court today. Zuma and French arms manufacturer Thales are facing corruption and racketeering charges related to the controversial 1999 multi-billion-rand arms deal. [SABC]

• George building collapse rescue continues: The search and rescue operation for those trapped in the partially constructed building that collapsed in George, Western Cape, last Monday continues. It has left 33 people dead and 19 others still unaccounted for. Sixty-two victims have thus far been pulled from the site. [News24]

• Markets: The rand held onto its gains on Wednesday after encouraging domestic retail sales figures. On Thursday (15 May), the rand was trading at R18.28 to the dollar, R23.20 to the pound, and R19.92 to the euro. Oil is trading at $83.15 a barrel. [Reuters]