5 important things happening in South Africa today
·27 Jul 2018
Here’s what is happening in and affecting South Africa today:
- Former president Jacob Zuma is expected to appear in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg on Friday. The embattled former president faces charges of corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering, while his co-accused, French arms company Thint (Thales) faces charges of corruption and fraud. [News24]
- Russian President Vladimir Putin raised the issue of nuclear deals in his first meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the BRICS summit on Thursday afternoon, but his host said that South Africa could not sign such a deal for now. [EWN]
- The DA has reached an agreement with Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille about her ongoing issues with the party, which includes allowing an open disciplinary hearing. At the same time on Thursday, DA councillor Marian Nieuwoudt officially withdrew the motion of no confidence in de Lille, saying other channels had opened up to address the concerns she had about the mayor. [News24]
- Skywatchers around the world will have sight of the longest total lunar eclipse of the century on Friday. The eclipse will be visible in South Africa from 20:24 and then from 21:30 to 23:13, and the moon will be transformed into a reddish orange colour. [eNCA]
- The JSE closed slightly higher on Thursday as a stronger rand supported banks and financials. The rand rose to a three-week best level to the dollar as the greenback weakened following president Donald Trump and European commission president Jean-Claude Juncker’s agreement to cut down on trade tensions. On Friday the rand was at R13.23 to the dollar, R17.34 to the pound and R15.41 to the euro.
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