New countries ‘join’ BRICS, and Mashatile comes after Ministers

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

• BRICS grows: BRICS, the Global South-led forum for economic cooperation, has officially expanded with the inclusion of nine new nations as partner countries. Uganda, the only African country, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan as well as Uzbekistan are now officially partner members from the first day of 2025. The partner members can become full members of BRICS in the future. [SABC]

• Ministers Q&A problem: Deputy President Paul Mashatile has demanded answers from his fellow cabinet ministers who have failed to reply to all the questions put to them in writing by MPs. Of the 2,477 questions asked by MPS in the National Assembly during the 2024 parliamentary term, 207 had not been answered. In the NCOP, 582 questions were asked, 501 were answered and 233 were replied to late. [Business Day]

• Zama standoff backlash: The South African government claims many illegal miners in Stilfontein have voluntarily left abandoned shafts. However, the Stilfontein Crisis Committee reports that some miners remain trapped, suffering from starvation, dehydration, and chronic illnesses. With rescue efforts on hold and the government denying responsibility, calls for urgent intervention are increasing, including an application to the Constitutional Court. [Daily Maverick]

• Blaze tears through homes: Over 150 people were left homeless after a fire broke out at the Kayamandi Informal Settlement in Stellenbosch. While firefighters extinguished the blaze, dozens of structures were destroyed. [eNCA]

• Markets: The rand weakened on Wednesday in thin trading. On Thursday (02 January), the rand was trading at R18.84 to the dollar, R23.64 to the pound, and R19.53 to the euro. Oil is trading at $74.84 a barrel.