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5 things you need to know in South Africa today

Staff Writer

 ·26 Sep 2016

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

• President Jacob Zuma’s brother has urged him to step down – before he gets himself killed. The president’s brother, Michael Zuma, told the Sunday Times that he and his wife were getting worried over the growing hatred for Zuma, and believe that his life may be at risk. He said that the president should quit politics and return to Nkandla where he would be safe from any would-be killers.

• The SABC has denied weekend reports that its ‘top employee’ Hlaudi Motsoeneng had pocketed over R11 million in bonuses, and was appointed to another senior position in the group. It is currently being alleged that the broadcaster’s board is doing everything it can to have Motsoeneng reappointed as COO, despite a court ordering him to go. The ANC has supported the court order and says the controversial figure should be removed.

• Several universities in South Africa, including UCT and Wits, will remain closed this week (or indefinitely) as student protests for free education are expected to intensify. Classes have been suspended amid increasingly destructive protest activity on campuses, where students are threatening to render the universities, the surrounding areas and even the whole country ‘ungovernable’ should their demands for free education for all not be met.

• The ANC Youth League has made more unfounded claims against exiting Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, saying that she is a spy for white capital – and that her investigation into state capture is evidence of that. The group said that Madonsela should not only be investigating the Gupta family, but should also look to the “Stellenbosch mafia” if she was serious about state capture. The league accused Madonsela of being a CIA agent.

• South Africa’s rand retreated against the dollar on Friday after the central bank hinted it might not raise rates further, while firms that earn profits outside the country helped lift stocks. On Monday the rand lost much of the strength it gained during last week, trading at R13.69 to the dollar, R17.76 to the pound and R15.38 to the euro.

In other news: The Auditor General has found that the secret sale of South Africa’s crude oil stocks in December last year was in fact illegal. The department of energy did not have permission from Treasury to make the sale – and to make matters worse, it only received R3.9 billion for the oil, much less than the R5 billion the department said it got. The sale included South Africa’s entire reserve stock of 10 million barrels.