5 things you need to know in South Africa today
·6 Oct 2016
Here’s what is happening in and affecting South Africa today:
- Deputy mineral resources minister Godfrey Oliphant has warned business people – particularly those in the mining sector – to stop publicly criticising president Jacob Zuma or face backlash from the government. A number of top mining executives have called for the president to step down saying he has ruined the country. One executive, chairperson of AngloGold Ashanti, Sipho Pityana, repeated the call soon after Oliphant made the statement.
- During a Parliamentary grilling into the goings-on at the SABC, two board members – Krish Naidoo and Vusi Mavuso – tendered their resignations, calling the board dysfunctional. The Parliamentary committee has resolved to launch an inquiry into the SABC, with all parties seeking to have the broadcaster’s board dissolved. Parties are unhappy that the SABC has effectively ignored the Public Protector and the courts by keeping Hlaudi Motsoeneng in an executive position.
- The ANC says that EFF leader Julius Malema is deluded for thinking that the two parties would ever merge due to a drop in support for the current ruling party. Malema said – in what he claims was an interview taken out of context – that he would merge the ANC and EFF under a new party, once the ANC lost enough support that it needed the EFF to govern. The ANC responded, saying that Malema has delusions of grandeur.
- With major universities shutting their doors until next week amid student protests, Wits is preparing for a General Assembly to address the issues being raised by both sides of the conflict. Meanwhile, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe says that students have misinterpreted the clause on education in the Freedom Charter, which specifically mentions free basic education, and tertiary education based on merit. He said the long-term goal was for all education to be free, but the focus is on entry-level education for now.
- South Africa’s rand firmed on Wednesday as investors ignored local factors and bet on the European Central Bank delaying plans to taper its asset buying programme. Gold mining stocks led the bourse weaker. On Thursday, the rand was trading at R13.74 to the dollar, R17.47 to the pound and R15.39 to the euro.
In other news: South Africa’s public protector will question President Jacob Zuma on Thursday over allegations he was influenced by the wealthy Gupta family in making government appointments.
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