Government

5 important things happening in South Africa today

Staff Writer

 ·14 Dec 2022

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

• President to stay on:  South African President Cyril Ramaphosa survived a special vote at the National Assembly regarding the Phala Phala report– with votes dismissing the report winning 214 to 148. The decision to quash a further investigation into the Phala Phala scandal means that Ramaphosa can run for a second term as President of South Africa and ANC – the latter being decided later this week. [BusinessDay]

• Tembisa Thieves to be “hunted down“:  Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi released a preliminary report from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which appeared to confirm murdered Gauteng Health Department whistle-blower Babita Deokaran’s tip-offs on major corruption at Tembisa hospital. The SIU was initially employed in a secondment agreement with the Gauteng government, but Lesufi recommended a full investigation via a Presidential Proclamation. [EWN, News24]

• Coalition drama in KZN: Deputy Mayor of eThekwini Municipality Philani Mavundla from the Abantu Batho Congress (ABC) was ousted from the city’s executive committee. The ANC said he failed as chairperson of the human settlements and infrastructure committee. Mavundla says that he takes his dismissal to court. This follows recent coalition trouble in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, where DA members Mpho Phalatse and Tania Campbell were removed from their positions of Mayor – only to be reinstated shortly after.  [News24]

• More sewage problems for SA beaches: The City of Cape Town (CCT) has indefinitely closed certain parts of Muizenberg Beach. This is due to an electrical failure at the Clifton Road sewer pump station caused by a faulty ultrasonic device. This follows recent news in KZN, where numerous beaches across the eThekwini coastline have returned dangerously high E.coli levels. [CCT; News24]

• Markets: The rand made significant gains after parliament rejected the Phala Phala report, furthering President Cyril Rampahosa’s campaign for re-election as the ANC president. According to Wells Fargo Securities economist & FX strategist Brendan McKenna, the ANC’s decision to stop impeachment proceedings was a net positive for the rand. On Wednesday (13 December), the rand was trading at R17.27/$, R18.34/€, and R21.32/£. Brent crude is trading at $70.33 a barrel. [Bloomberg]