7,000 mining jobs cut, and Lusikisiki mass shooting death toll rises

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

• Pain for miners: South African mining industry lost nearly 7,000 jobs in the second quarter. This reflects a series of restructurings and layoffs over the past year due to declining prices of platinum group metals (PGMs), increasing input costs, and logistical challenges that are impacting mining companies. [Business Day]

• Lusikisiki death toll rises: Specialist police units have been dispatched to Lusikisiki after attackers killed 17 people in two houses late on Friday night, according to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on Saturday. The 18th victim, who was in critical condition and taken to the hospital, tragically passed away on Sunday afternoon. [Daily Maverick]

• Extreme weather continues: Starting from midnight, parts of the Western Cape, including the Cape Winelands, Cederberg, Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Little Karoo Mountains, will experience disruptive snowfall, which may close mountain passes and cause traffic disruptions. Communities are warned about potential service interruptions. A cold front is also expected to hit KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, and the Eastern Cape, following last weekend’s extreme weather that left travellers stuck on the N3 for hours. [eNCA]

• High Court rules against SAIT: The Pretoria High Court has ruled that representatives of the South African Institute of Taxation (SAIT) must pay security for costs before they can continue with their main legal case. This case aims to determine whether The Tax Faculty, which was established with SAIT funds, had the right to change its memorandum of incorporation (MoI) without consulting its main shareholder. [Moneyweb]

• Markets: South Africa’s rand extended gains against the dollar on Friday, hitting a fresh 20-month high amid improved risk appetite and positive sentiment at home. On Monday (30 September), the rand was trading at R17.08 to the dollar, R22.88 to the pound, and R19.07 to the euro. Oil is trading at $72.35 a barrel. [Reuters]