Tiger Brands pays up, and Tshwane Mayor announces turnaround plan

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

• Tiger Brands pays medical fees: Tiger Brands, the food producer involved in the listeriosis outbreak of 2017/18, has not yet had its liability determined in court. However, the company is actively engaging with the legal team representing the class action lawsuit for the victims of the outbreak. Their goal is to reach an agreement on relief measures for certain claimants who have urgent medical needs. The legal team, which represents over 1,000 claimants affected by the outbreak, has confirmed that it has received a proposal from Tiger Brands to provide interim benefits to a group of claimants. This group includes children born with listeriosis who require immediate medical attention. [Daily Maverick]

• Tshwane Mayor announces turnaround plan: Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya has presented her administration’s 100-day action plan. This announcement follows the Gauteng Finance MEC’s report on the capital’s financial difficulties. The City is owed R24 billion by residents and businesses. [eNCA]

• Eskom challenges Nersa trading licenses: Eskom announced on Wednesday night that it would challenge the energy regulator Nersa’s approval of four electricity trading licenses, which was granted on Tuesday. This decision follows Nersa’s dismissal of Eskom’s objections raised during a public hearing in July. Eskom contended that the trading licenses awarded to GreenCo Power, CBI Electric Apollo, Green Electron Market, and Discovery Green should not be granted within its exclusive distribution areas. [Business Day]

• Police officer accused of killing nine back in court: A police officer from Limpopo, Rachel Kutumela, who is accused of killing nine people for insurance claims totalling R10 million, will continue her bail application today in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court. During the court session yesterday, Kutumela stated that she was responsible for paying the insurance premiums for her late partner, Noko Mantja, as well as for all her family members. Kutumela, her 27-year-old daughter, and her 47-year-old sister have been charged with insurance-related fraud. [SABC]

• Markets: The South African rand fell on Wednesday as a highly anticipated budget speech by the finance minister failed to impress investors. On Thursday (31 October), the rand was trading at R17.68 to the dollar, R22.89 to the pound, and R19.18 to the euro. Oil is trading at $73.00 a barrel. [Reuters]