Cape Town beach warning, and calls for spaza shop crackdown

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

• Cape Town beach warning: An epidemiologist has warned that increased sewage at Cape Town’s beaches poses serious health risks. She revealed that sewage intrusion into the ocean has risen alarmingly. Recently, a team of experts tested local rivers and beaches, finding that most rivers flowing into the sea are heavily polluted with sewage. Additionally, stormwater contamination from leaking sewers and overflowing wastewater treatment facilities further contributes to the pollution. [EWN]

• Senzo Meyiwa trial back in court: The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial is set to resume this morning in the Pretoria High Court. The case was postponed earlier in October due to the ill health of defence lawyer Thulani Mngomezulu. Saturday marked 10 years since the soccer star was shot and killed at the Vosloorus home of his then-girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, in eastern Johannesburg. Five men are currently on trial for Meyiwa’s murder. Two weeks ago, the state presented its last witness, lead investigator Brigadier Bongani Gininda. [SABC]

• ANC seeks stricter regulations: The ANC’s National Executive Committee is urging the government to implement stricter regulations for spaza shops. Party President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed concern over the increasing incidents of child deaths linked to food purchased from local spaza shops. He also commended the police for arresting suspects involved in alleged food poisoning cases, as well as addressing the recent mass killings in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. [eNCA]

• Health Department in hot water: The Independent Development Trust is acting as the project manager for the Department of Health and has appointed private contractors to install oxygen plants at fifty-five government hospitals. This R836-million project raises concerns, as most of the funding will go to a little-known company that does not have the necessary accreditation. [Daily Maverick]

• Markets: On Friday, South Africa’s rand strengthened as local investors prepared for the upcoming mid-term budget this week. On Monday (28 October), the rand was trading at R17.72 to the dollar, R22.94 to the pound, and R19.11 to the euro. Oil is trading at $72.61 a barrel. [Reuters]