Government

5 important things happening in South Africa today

Staff Writer

 ·11 Aug 2021

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

Coronavirus: In South Africa, there have been 6,590 new cases of Covid-19, taking the total reported to 2,546,742. Deaths have reached 75,201 (+189), while recoveries have climbed to 2,319,803, leaving the country with a balance of 151,758 active cases. The total number of vaccines administered is 8,621,932 (+19,808).

• Variants: Health experts warn that populations that remain unvaccinated against Covid-19 increase the risk of more variants developing. The World Health Organization is already thinking past the Greek alphabet for potential variant names, saying that the longer the virus remains in high transmission, the more opportunity it has to change and evolve. The only way to combat this is by vaccinating huge groups of people. The risk is that variants resistant to the immuno-response from vaccines could emerge. There are currently 11 named variants, four of which are most prominent. [TimesLive]

• Power ships: The “non-negotiable” deadline for preferred bidders in South Africa’s emergency energy procurement deal has been extended – without explanation – effectively handing the Turkish power ship company a lifeline to get its affairs in order. The company, which scored 20-year contracts to dock ships on SA’s coastlines to provide energy, had the deal scuppered on environmental grounds. The Department of Energy and minister Gwede Mantashe are being accused of giving the company special treatment, attempting to push the deal through no matter what. [Daily Maverick]

• Alert: Suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule will be back in court on Wednesday with 15 co-accused to face corruption charges. Magashule and the co-accused are facing charges relating to R255 million tender fraud in the Free State. The appearance is a pre-trial hearing. The State Security Agency has alerted police officials to be on the lookout for signs of unrest, as court appearances for Magashule and Jacob Zuma have been flagged as catalysts for violence and rioting, tied to factional battles within the ANC. [News24 – paywall]

• Speaker: Former Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has effectively swapped places with her replacement, Thandi Modise, with the ANC putting her name forward to take over as speaker of parliament. The decision to nominate Mapisa-Nqakula has not been popular with opposition parties, who say she is not fit for the position. Mapisa-Nqakula is seen to have failed in her duties as defence minister during the July riots, and being elected as speaker would be ‘failing upwards’. The ANC said she is more than qualified for the position. [EWN]

• Markets: South Africa’s ran fell 0.3% on Tuesday as the delta variant wave of the Covid-19 pandemic grips an economy already riddled by protests and crime. Adding to the country’s woes, new data shows that the debt-laden country’s treasury faces a flight of top taxpayers. The rand has given up this year’s gains, trading about half a percent lower so far in 2021. On Wednesday the rand is trading at R14.82/$, R17.37/€ and R20.50/£.