Pravin Gordhan passes away, and Ramaphosa to sign BELA Bill

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

• Pravin Gordhan has died: Pravin Gordhan, the founding commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), twice finance minister and the face of the resistance against state capture, died on Friday morning at the age of 75. According to a statement from his family, Gordhan “passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by his family, closest friends and his lifelong comrades in the liberation struggle”. [News24]

• Ramaphosa to sign BELA Bill into law: President Cyril Ramaphosa will sign the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill at a ceremony to be held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The Bill amends sections of the South African Schools Act of 1996 (SASA) and the Employment of Educators Act, 1998 (EEA) “to account for developments in the education landscape since the enactment of the original legislation.” [The Presidency]

• D-Day set for adjudication of lucrative lottery tender: The National Lottery Commission will conclude the adjudication of the fourth national lottery licence on October 8. Several ANC-linked entities have submitted bids for the lucrative multibillion-rand contract. The process involves multiple phases: publishing requests for proposals, bid submissions, evaluations, adjudication, and a final decision by the minister. The Department of Trade, Industry & Competition said that extensive, independent vetting is conducted, and board members are kept unaware of the bidders to prevent bias. [Business Day]

• Simelane’s report on VBS Bank allegations “being reviewed”: President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is busy studying the report of Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, Thembi Simelane on allegations around the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank. Simelane allegedly took a loan of more than R 500 000 from a company that brokered unlawful investments worth R349 Million in VBS by the Polokwane Municipality while she was Mayor of the city in 2016. [SABC]

• Markets: The rand inched higher against a weaker dollar on Thursday, with the next big local drivers – inflation data and an interest rate decision – due next week. On Friday (13 September), the rand was trading at R17.73 to the dollar, R23.42 to the pound, and R19.68 to the euro. Oil is trading at $72.38 a barrel. [Reuters]