A ‘win’ for Cosatu, and another mass shooting in South Africa

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

• Cosatu’s victory march: The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has declared its day of action on Monday a success. Union members across the country marched to government offices, delivering memoranda demanding action on joblessness, poverty, and inequality. These issues, Cosatu argues, are at the heart of South Africa’s severe economic crisis. [SABC]

• Eastern Cape mass murder: A mass shooting in the Eastern Cape has claimed the lives of six people in Qumbu. The victims, believed to be members of the Community Policing Forum, were attacked in Godini village. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. [EWN]

• Rail lines get inspected: Transport Minister Barbara Creecy is inspecting the rail network in Ekurhuleni today as part of the government’s program to restore passenger rail services nationwide. This is in response to the significant impact of infrastructure damage and cable theft on railway lines. [eNCA]

• Hlophe resigns from the JSC: Impeached former Western Cape judge president turned politician John Hlophe has resigned from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). [Times Live]

• Markets: South Africa’s rand gained against the dollar on Monday after tumbling last week, as investors turned their attention towards U.S. inflation data later this week and comments by Federal Reserve officials. On Tuesday (8 October), the rand was trading at R17.44 to the dollar, R22.84 to the pound, and R19.17 to the euro. Oil is trading at $77.79 a barrel. [Reuters]