5 things you need to know in South Africa today
Here’s what is happening in and affecting South Africa today:
The Western Cape High Court found in a ruling on 12 December that Hlaudi Motsoeneng cannot work at the SABC in any capacity unless a Public Protector’s report is set aside, or a new disciplinary hearing clears him. Judge Owen Rogers also set aside acting COO Bessie Tugwana’s position. Summarily, the SABC must also establish a new disciplinary committee under which clear timelines must be kept. Until those processes are finalised, Motsoeneng’s appointment remains invalid.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan believes South Africa’s economy is on the road to recovery. This was due to improved electricity supply, easing drought and a depreciation in the real exchange rate among other factors, said Gordhan, speaking at a National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (Numsa) in Cape Town on 12 December. Gordhan however warned the labour union conference that macroeconomic stability is crucial to cushion the economy from potentially volatile capital flows in an uncertain global environment.
Numsa leader Andrew Chirwa believes that there is no room for the ANC in South Africa anymore, “except in the dustbins of history”. In a presentation of Numsa’s secretariat report on 12 December, Chirwa said that now was the time to begin building a “genuine revolutionary socialist political party”. “The ANC, Cosatu, SACP can blame all sorts of issues: factionalism, corruption, the electoral system and even voodoo, but the stark truth is [they] have lost their way and are no longer revolutionary formations,” said Chirwa.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says the country urgently needs to create its own unique way of teaching maths to demystify the perception that South African children are not mathematically inclined. Speaking at a specially convened indaba aimed at addressing the country’s maths and science issues, Motshekga said that innovative ways needed to be explored in order to address poor learning outcomes in mathematics. “We’re all working in different ways, but we’re not getting the traction that we want. Especially with societal issues and beyond just bringing them to schools, there are things you need to do in your homes to really help your kids perform.”
South Africa’s rand climbed as much as 1.3% against the dollar on Monday, mainly tracking a rally in commodity currencies driven by a firmer oil price. On Tuesday, the rand was trading at R13.62 to the dollar, R17.26 to the pound and R14.49 to the euro.
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