5 things you need to know in South Africa today
·7 Oct 2016
Here’s what is happening in and affecting South Africa today:
- President Jacob Zuma is trying to delay the Public Protector’s investigation into the Gupta family and claims of state capture by refusing to answer question put forward by outgoing PP Thuli Madonsela, and pushing for the matter to be handled by the new PP Busisiwe Mkhwebane. Zuma’s legal representatives are arguing that there is not enough time for Madonsela to properly deal with the report, and that there is no reason it should be prioritised.
- More big names are joining business leaders such as AngloGold chairman Sipho Pityana in calling for Jacob Zuma to step down as president. Former finance minister and ANC stalwart Trevor Manuel and former public enterprises minister Barbara Hogan have added their voices, saying Zuma broke his oath of office and should go. The group are part of the “Save South Africa” coalition, campaigning for Zuma’s removal.
- SABC board chairman Mbulaheni Maghuve and corporate affairs executive Hlaudi Motsoeneng have given Parliament the middle finger, making it clear that they are not going to step down from their positions at the broadcaster voluntarily. Parliament said it will launch and inquiry into the SABC board’s fitness to hold office, and will ask individual members to step down. The executives said the committee is bullying them and ambushed them.
- Student body Sasco has laid the blame for destruction and violence on campuses across South Africa squarely at the feet of the EFF, saying that it was party members that were instigating violence. The student group said that EFF members were threatening students to take part in their violence and that they should be stopped. The EFF meanwhile has slammed Sasco for singling them out – though there was no outright denial of the claims.
- South Africa’s rand weakened on Thursday as bets on a December U.S. rate rise brought emerging currencies under pressure, while stocks ended slightly weaker as gold and platinum mining shares slid on lower precious metal prices. The benchmark Top-40 index closed down. On Friday the rand was trading at R13.93 to the dollar, R17.35 to the pound and R15.48 to the euro.
In other news: Businesses are sitting on about R600 billion in cash that they are waiting to invest in South Africa – but only if the government gets its act together and shows the right kind of progress. The South African government is at pains to build business confidence in the country, but is struggling to shake weak economic growth, anti-business policies, and widespread corruption.
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