Big data price changes coming, and spy agency’s missing billions blunder

 ·13 Jan 2025

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


  • State capture inquiry blunder: Former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo acknowledged that evidence in the State Capture Inquiry claiming R9 billion in missing assets from the State Security Agency (SSA) during Arthur Fraser’s tenure was incorrect. In court papers responding to Fraser’s challenge, Zondo clarified that the correct figure, as noted in a classified Auditor-General report, was just over R9 million, which was reflected in Zondo’s final report. [News24]

  • Telecoms reform for South Africa: The government plans reforms to lower data prices in South Africa by fostering competition in the telecom sector. Kwena Moloto from the Department of Communications & Digital Technologies (DCDT) told Business Day that a notice inviting public comment on the proposed policy will be published in early 2025, with a final policy expected by mid-year. [Business Day]

  • Former interim PRASA board found guilty: A judicial conduct tribunal has found Judge Nana Makhubele – who chaired the interim board of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) after being appointed as a judge in Gauteng – guilty of gross misconduct. The tribunal also found her conduct as the chair of PRASA’s interim board to be equally unethical. [GroundUp]

  • Councillor arrested for extortion: Limpopo’s Elias Motsoaledi municipality may face another by-election soon after newly elected ward 30 councillor Tobius Malope was arrested for extortion. Malope, arrested with eight others in Rooissenekal, Limpopo, on Thursday, had his arrest kept quiet until news leaked over the weekend. [The Citizen]

  • Markets: The rand weakened to an eight-month low on Friday after U.S. non-farm payrolls data reinforced bets that the Federal Reserve will pause its rate-cutting cycle later this month. On Monday (13 January), the rand was trading at R19.11 to the dollar, R23.36 to the pound, and R19.61 to the euro. Oil is trading at $81.06 a barrel. [Reuters]
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