Finance

5 important things happening in South Africa today

Staff Writer

 ·22 Jun 2017

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

• The Constitutional Court is expected to deliver its ruling on the secret ballot case today, determining how, if at all, Parliament can go about implementing a secret vote on a motion of no confidence against president Jacob Zuma. The matter was brought by the UDM, who argued that threats and intimidation were being used to force ANC MPs to vote to keep Zuma in power. Those opposed to the case say that the court has no right to interfere and needs to consider the separation of powers.

• An online presence used to push “white monopoly capital” propaganda and attack journalists and public figures who stand against president Zuma and the Guptas has reportedly been traced back to the Guptas themselves. According to investigation by Scorpio the person behind WMCLeaks.com – a pro-Gupta fake news site – is a former Sahara Computers employee, who also worked at Gupta media groups, The New Age and ANN7.

• The Gauteng Metered Taxi Operators Committee has given notice of a taxi strike in the province, which could impact road users across major metro areas. The group will be gathering at OR Tambo and East Rand shopping malls, and marching to its head offices in Midrand. From 9am, the R21, R24 and N3 could be affected.

• The department of telecoms says that it is engaging with the industry to bring down data prices, including calling for an inquiry into such costs by Icasa. Disgruntled and angry customers attempted to hold a day of mass protest under the banner of a social media blackout, and data purchase boycott across the networks on Wednesday. Ironically, the hashtag #socialmediablackout was a top trending topic on the day.

• South Africa’s rand extended losses against the dollar on Wednesday and government bonds weakened after data showed inflation rose in May but not enough to change expectations that the central bank will be loosening monetary policy this year. On Thursday the rand was trading at R13.03 to the dollar, R16.53 to the pound and R14.57 to the euro.