Business

5 things you need to know in South Africa today

Staff Writer

 ·4 Oct 2016

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

• The ANC is slowly changing its tune on proposed lifestyle audits for government officials, with the ruling party now supporting the call – after years of rejecting the plan. The call for lifestyle audits first came in 2011, but the ANC did not want it. However, following a big loss in the 2016 elections, and fears support will dwindle in 2019, the party has changed its tune.

• Protesting students have said no to proposals to end their action against universities, as a recent imbizo set up to find a resolution to the free education matter hit an impasse. Meanwhile students at Wits and UCT are trying to head back to class, with bolstered security, and potential criminal proceedings awaiting those who try to stop them.

• The latest Ibrahim Index of African Governance shows that South Africa’s place on the continent is worsening, with the country slipping to sixth place, below Mauritius, Botswana, Cape Verde, the Seychelles and Namibia. The index is a comprehensive analysis of 54 African nations on the basis of security, human rights, health, education, and many others.

• The ANC wants the SABC board to be fired, and an announced inquiry into the broadcaster’s management and operations is just a formality, insiders say. The ANC is angry at the SABC board for ignoring a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling insisting controversial executive, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, should be removed from his position of power. Instead, the company reappointed him to executive level.

• South Africa’s rand and bonds firmed on Monday after the finance minister said the economy may be over the worst of its downturn and took a further boost from upbeat Chinese manufacturing data. Stocks were weaker. On Tuesday the rand was trading at R13.63 to the dollar, R17.51 to the pound and R15.25 to the euro.

In other news: Following a big loss in Nelson Mandela Bay, former ANC mayor Danny Jordaan has stepped down as leader for the party in the province, but will remain to help the ANC campaign for support. The new ANC leader in NMB is Bicks Ndoni, the former deputy mayor in the metro.