Massive warehouse busted for selling expired food, and the NPA crumbles

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

• NPA financial investigators exodus: Key financial investigators are leaving the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) due to low pay, with many joining the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), where salaries are nearly double. NPA head Shamila Batohi disclosed this in a Parliament committee meeting and said the disparity in salaries needed to be dealt with “otherwise, it makes it very, very difficult to build capacity that we want to within government and within the NPA in particular.” [Daily Maverick]

• Justice officials in the dock: The case against two Limpopo government employees, a court official and a Hawks officer accused of soliciting a bribe from an accused to make her case “disappear” was heard by Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court and has been postponed. A stenographer at the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court, and Warrant Officer who is attached to Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), were arrested in October and are facing charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice. [The Citizen]

• Coal is here to stay for some time: South Africa’s R1.48 trillion just energy transition (JET) is progressing as plans gain momentum to upskill workers for renewable energy generation and assist small businesses in rolling out green projects. However, the Presidency told parliament’s portfolio committee on electricity and energy that coal will remain a major part of the energy mix well into the 2030 to 2050 period. [Mail & Guardian]

• Giant warehouse selling expired food found: As the crisis of dangerous foods continues, KwaZulu-Natal police have discovered a warehouse selling expired food, allegedly exported from other countries, in Bluff, south of Durban. Officials said it was not clear at this stage which countries the goods come from, but it’s believed they were shipped into the country. The items include food, drinks, medication and cosmetics. [EWN]

• Markets: The rand slipped on Wednesday against a buoyant dollar, despite inflation dropping to its lowest level in more than four years, and as investors geared up for a policy announcement by the central bank. On Thursday (21 November), the rand was trading at R18.12 to the dollar, R22.94 to the pound, and R19.12 to the euro. Oil is trading at $72.99 a barrel. [Reuters]