New BRICS member, and matric results court battle

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

• New BRICS member: Indonesia will formally join BRICS as a full member, Brazil’s government said, further expanding the group of major emerging economies that also includes Russia, India, China and South Africa. Indonesia’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that it welcomed the announcement and that “BRICS membership is a strategic way to increase collaboration and partnership with other developing nations.” [SABC]

• DBE in court: The Information Regulator is set to appear before the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria in a case against the national Department of Basic Education over the publication of the 2024 matric results. The regulator seeks a final interdict against the department for its intention to publish or cause other parties to publish the results of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations held in 2024. [EWN]

• Horror crash on the N3: 18 people, including 5 children, were killed in a crash on the N3 at Van Reenen’s Pass in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday night. The Road Traffic Management Corporation said a truck, minibus and light motor vehicle were involved in the multiple-vehicle crash. [News24]

• Thousands of 2025 arrests: Police have said that from 30 December 2024 to 5 January 2025, at least 13,105 suspects have been arrested and 125 illegal firearms recovered during the nationwide operation. This was through means like tracking operations, roadblocks, high visibility patrols, stop-and-searches, and tracing wanted suspects. [The Citizen]

• Markets: The rand regained some ground against a weaker dollar on Monday ahead of a flurry of economic data releases this week from the world’s biggest economy. On Tuesday (07 January), the rand was trading at R18.59 to the dollar, R23.31 to the pound, and R19.31 to the euro. Oil is trading at $76.25 a barrel. [Reuters]