5 important things happening in South Africa today
Here’s what is happening in and affecting South Africa today:
Taxi strikes continue: The taxi strike that has left parts of Cape Town in chaos has been extended by two more days, despite taxi industry rep Santaco setting an end date on 9 August. Santaco is now seeking an interdict against the City of Cape Town to get its impounded taxis back. The city impounded the vehicles due to violations of national traffic laws – although Santaco and national government disagree with this. [News24]
Solar theft rising: Forensic experts have warned that South Africa has a growing black market for solar panels and equipment, and this is fuelling a sharp rise in criminal activity targeting such installations. Security companies say that solar panels have become easy targets due to the ease of their removal. Criminals often wait for homeowners to leave their properties before bringing in ladders and simply removing the equipment. [Mail & Guardian]
New Karpowership deal: Turkish power ship company Karpowership has reportedly agreed to alter the terms of proposal to dock in South Africa, lowering the controversial 20-year period to just five. However, the decrease in years also comes with a hike in pricing. The group said that the five-year deal would cost the country ‘less than R15 billion’ a year, annually, implying a total cost in the region of R75 billion. The previous contract was estimated at R230 billion for 20 years, or just R11.5 billion a year. [Daily Maverick]
Zuma prison decision: Correctional Services will decide on Thursday (10 August) on whether Jacob Zuma should return to prison to serve out the rest of his sentence for being in contempt of the Constitutional Court. In June 2021, the Constitutional Court sentenced Zuma to 15 months behind bars for contempt after he had flouted its previous order to appear before the State Capture Commission of Inquiry. However, he only served two months before being released on medical parole. [EWN]
Markets: Markets were on break for the national holiday in South Africa on Wednesday (9 August), but the South African rand slipped again in trade on Tuesday ahead of the holiday, extending a run of weakness that began at the start of the month. The currency is now once again testing R19 to the dollar, having been the worst performing emerging market unit this week. On Thursday, the rand was trading at R18.96/USD, R20.83/EUR and R24.13/GBP. Oil is trading at $87.50 a barrel.
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