Let’s wrap up some of the top stories happening in South Africa this week!
This week, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) made headlines with Governor Lesetja Kganyago announcing a 25 basis point cut in the repo rate, the first decrease in four years. This move lowers the repo rate to 8% and brings the prime lending rate down to 11.50%.
In other economic news, consumer inflation continued its downward trend, falling to 4.4% in August, the lowest since April 2021, driven by softer rates in transport, housing, and hospitality.
Other news in SA, authorities have been cracking down on labour law violations in Gauteng, following viral allegations of worker mistreatment at Babel restaurant. Investigations revealed breaches at both Babel and Ocean Basket in Menlyn Mall.
Additionally, convicted criminal Thabo Bester returned to court, seeking access to a laptop for his upcoming deportation case. The TV and film industry is mourning the loss of veteran actor Sello Motloung, who passed away at the age of 54 after a short illness.
Here are the top stories of the week:
SARB CUTS REPO RATE BY 25 BASIS POINTS AFTER FOUR YEARS, NOW AT 8%
South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor Lesetja Kganyago has announced a 25 basis point cut in the repo rate, marking the first reduction in four years.
This decision by the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee lowers the repo rate from 8.25% to 8%, effective from Friday. As a result, the prime lending rate will decrease from 11.75% to 11.50%. This move follows a period of high interest rates, with the previous repo rate sitting at a 14-year high.
INFLATION DROPS TO 4.4% IN AUGUST
South Africa’s consumer inflation slowed for the third consecutive month, dropping to 4.4% in August from 4.6% in July, marking the lowest inflation rate since April 2021.
Key contributors to the decline were softer annual rates in transport, housing, and hospitality.
Transport inflation notably decreased, driven by a third month of falling fuel prices, with 95-octane petrol down to R23.11 per litre and diesel prices also continuing to drop. Transport’s impact on inflation has significantly reduced, accounting for only 9% in August, compared to 44% in mid-2022.
LABOUR DEPARTMENT GOES AFTER RESTAURANTS IN GAUTENG FOR LABOUR LAW VIOLATIONS
The Department of Labour, alongside SAPS and Home Affairs, has been conducting raids on restaurants across Gauteng targeting labour law violations.
This action follows a viral TikTok video by a former employee of Babel, alleging mistreatment and exploitation at the upmarket restaurant.
Investigations found that Babel and Ocean Basket at Menlyn Mall had breached several labour laws, including the National Minimum Wage Act, and owed employees a combined R1.3 million in unpaid wages. The raids aim to crack down on such violations across the sector.
Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth revealed that Ocean Basket and Babel owe their employees more than R1 million in underpaid wages. Both restaurants failed to meet the prescribed minimum wage of R27.58 per hour for 2024. This follows an investigation into Babel’s labour practices, which surfaced on TikTok, accusing the eatery of mistreatment and exploitation.
On Wednesday, Four undocumented workers and a manager were arrested during a raid at Tang restaurant in Mandela Square, Sandton.
Authorities are now searching for Tang’s owner to hold them accountable for hiring undocumented workers. The raid extended to six other establishments in Sandton on Wednesday.
SIFISO MKHWANAZI SENTENCED TO SIX LIFE TERMS FOR MURDER OF SEX WORKERS
Sifiso Mkhwanazi, convicted on over 20 counts, including rape and premeditated murder, was sentenced to six life terms by the High Court in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old was found guilty of killing six women, allegedly sex workers, between April and October 2022.
The bodies of the victims were discovered in a panel-beating business owned by Mkhwanazi’s father in Johannesburg in October 2022. This grim discovery brought to light a series of brutal murders, leading to Mkhwanazi’s conviction and sentencing. The court delivered its judgment on Wednesday, marking the end of the high-profile case.
COURT REJECTS THABO BESTER’S LAPTOP REQUEST
Convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester has returned to court, filing an urgent application in the Pretoria High Court demanding access to a laptop to prepare for his upcoming deportation case.
In a heated exchange with the judge, Bester claims his constitutional rights are being violated by the denial of this access. However, the court dismissed the urgency of the matter.
Bester, who fled South Africa after escaping from Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022, was arrested in Tanzania and deported back in April. His deportation case is set to be heard in February 2025 in the Free State High Court.
LEGENDARY SA ACTOR SELLO MOTLOUNG DIES AT 54
South Africa’s television and film industry mourns the loss of veteran actor Sello Motloung, who passed away at 54 following a short illness.
His family shared the news on Sunday, expressing their shock and requesting privacy during this difficult time. Motloung, celebrated for his roles in Zulu Love Letter, Jerusalema, Backstage, Mamello, Rhythm City, and The Wife on Showmax, leaves behind a rich legacy in the entertainment industry.
His passing comes just days after the death of fellow industry legend Darlington Michaels, the famous Papa G.
MPUMALANGA RECORDS HIGHEST HIV PREVALENCE RATE WITH 17.4%
Mpumalanga recorded the highest HIV prevalence among South Africa’s provinces, with 17.4% of the population living with HIV in 2022—an estimated 890,000 people.
This is according to the Sixth South African HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Behaviour Survey (SABSSM VI), released by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).
Among youth aged 15 to 24, HIV prevalence was 7.8%, with males (9.8%) significantly higher than females (6.3%). In adults aged 25 to 49, prevalence was 26.4%, with females (31.9%) also higher than males (19.9%). Gert Sibande district had the highest HIV prevalence at 20.5%, followed by Ehlanzeni (16%) and Nkangala (13.1%).
NIGERIAN DRUG MULE ARRESTED AT OR TAMBO WITH COCAINE IN HEADPHONES
On Friday evening, 13 September 2024, OR Tambo International Airport police, working with airport security, BMA, customs officials, and ACSA staff, apprehended a Nigerian drug mule who had arrived from São Paulo en route to Nigeria.
The suspect, who claimed to be a street vendor from Nigeria, was found with cocaine concealed in airline headphones. The drug mule had handed the headphones to a cleaner at the airport, who managed to evade arrest.
National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Fannie Masemola, has reaffirmed his commitment to rooting out criminals in South Africa, emphasizing that the country is no haven for illegal activities. Praising a multidisciplinary team at OR Tambo International Airport, Masemola highlighted recent successes, including the seizure of over R13 million worth of drugs, including R12 million in cocaine, and the arrest of nine drug traffickers in the past two months.
CASE AGAINST JOSHLIN SMITH’S MOTHER POSTPONED AS NEW EVIDENCE EMERGES
The case involving Joshlin Smith’s mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, and her co-accused has been postponed to 21 October 2024 after the state revealed new evidence.
Racquel, alongside Jacquen Appolis, Stevano van Rhyn, and Lourentia Lombard, briefly appeared in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The group faces charges of kidnapping and trafficking in persons for exploitation following the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin. The postponement allows the state to present this newly surfaced evidence in the ongoing investigation.
ROMAN’S PIZZA ADDRESSES VIRAL VIDEO OF BOX REUSE INCIDENT
Roman’s Pizza has responded to concerns following a viral video showing an employee cleaning and reusing a pizza box at a franchised branch in Daveyton.
The incident took place at Mayfield Square Shopping Centre in Gauteng. CEO John Nicolakakis reassured customers that this behaviour is not in line with the brand’s operational standards. Roman’s Pizza emphasizes its commitment to strict hygiene protocols and a zero-tolerance policy against practices that compromise the quality and safety of its products.
ROAD ACCIDENT FUND PLANS TO EXCLUDE HIGH-INCOME EARNERS FROM COVERAGE
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) is considering a proposal to exclude high-income individuals from its coverage. Speaking to Jeremy Maggs on MoneyWeb, RAF spokesperson, McIntosh Polela, explained that the plan aims to limit coverage based on income, with wealthier individuals potentially no longer qualifying for compensation.
Polela clarified, “We’re going to propose that people within a certain pay grade should not be covered by the RAF, but for now, we are focusing on excluding rich individuals.” The move is part of ongoing discussions to reshape the RAF’s approach to claims and compensation.
PETROL PRICE SET FOR ANOTHER DROP IN OCTOBER
South African motorists can look forward to a further fuel price reduction in October, following a series of price cuts over recent months. According to unaudited data from the Central Energy Fund, prices for petrol, diesel, and illuminating paraffin are expected to decrease significantly.
The Automobile Association has noted that this ongoing trend will provide much-needed relief, especially ahead of the festive season, and will ease the burden on businesses facing high input costs. The latest snapshot from the CEF, dated September 13, confirms this upcoming drop.
NSFAS APPLICATIONS FOR 2025 0PEN THIS WEEK SEPTEMBER WITH NEW SYSTEM
Higher Education Minister Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane will launch the application season through a media briefing, joined by NSFAS Administrator Mr. Freeman Nomvalo and participating learners.
The postponement was due to a necessary system dry run and stakeholder engagements. The revamped NSFAS system now includes applications for learners from Grades 9 to 11 entering technical and vocational training. The NSFAS bursary is available to South African citizens and permanent residents with a household income of up to R350,000 per annum, while the NSFAS loan is for those with an income between R350,001 and R600,000.
BMW WORKERS STRIKE OVER MEDICAL AID FRAUD ALLEGATIONS
Workers at BMW’s Rosslyn plant in Pretoria have gone on strike, accusing management of unfairly targeting them amid allegations of medical aid fraud involving the BMW Employees Medical Aid Scheme.
So far, six employees have been arrested, 20 dismissed, and over 500 are facing disciplinary action.
Numsa’s Regional Secretary, Jerry Morulane, stated that the union is working with management to save jobs, arguing that workers were lured into the fraudulent scheme by intermediaries connected to doctors. Despite the strike, BMW confirmed that production remains unaffected, and the medical aid fraud investigation is ongoing.
TRAIN DERAILS IN PAARL & INJURES 25 PASSENGERS
The incident resulted in approximately 25 passengers being injured, with some trapped at the scene. Emergency services quickly responded, but the wreckage was scattered, leaving behind only blue gloves, masks, and personal items of commuters as stark reminders of the accident.
DA TERMINATES RENALDO GOUWS’ MEMBERSHIP AFTER RACIAL VIDEO SURFACES
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has officially terminated Renaldo Gouws’ membership following the release of videos showing him using derogatory language. On Friday, 13 September, the DA confirmed that its Federal Executive unanimously decided to revoke Gouws’ membership.
Gouws has been informed of the decision, resulting in him forfeiting his seat in Parliament. This comes after a thorough investigation by the DA’s Federal Legal Commission (FLC), which found him guilty of violating several sections of the party’s constitution.
SA HAS A NEW STATE-OWNED PETROLEUM COMPANY
A new state-owned petroleum entity has officially launched.
The company was formed through the amalgamation of iGas, PetroSA, and the Strategic Fuel Fund, subsidiaries of the Central Energy Fund (CEF).
A policy statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa has led to the formation of the South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC), a new state-owned entity. The SANPC was created through the merger of Central Energy Fund (CEF) subsidiaries, iGas, PetroSA, and the Strategic Fuel Fund.
The SANPC will play a crucial role in ensuring energy security, driving innovation, and overseeing the strategic governance of South Africa’s petroleum resources. The company has been authorized to operate under the Public Finance Management Act and aims to boost economic development in line with Ramaphosa’s 2020 State of the Nation Address.
SNOWFALL AND COLD CONDITIONS EXPECTED IN EASTERN CAPE AND KWAZULU-NATAL
Cloudy, wet, and cold to very cold weather is forecast for the central and eastern regions of South Africa on Friday and Saturday, 20-21 September 2024, as per SA Weather alert.
Snowfall is expected over the high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, prompting warnings for road users to exercise caution, especially in the Eastern Cape where road closures are anticipated.
MEC for Transport spokesperson Makhaya Komisa confirmed a level 6 orange warning for disruptive snow over Emalahleni, Sakhisizwe, eLundini, and Matatiele from Thursday morning to Friday, with potential mountain pass closures in these areas.
SUPERSPORT AND SABC STRIKE PSL BROADCAST RIGHTS DEAL
SuperSport and the SABC have agreed on a deal for sub-licensing Premier Soccer League (PSL) broadcast rights ahead of the new Betway Premiership season.
With this acquisition, SABC will broadcast 51 matches, including:
- 23 Betway Premiership games,
- 10 Carling Black Label Cup matches,
- 12 Nedbank Cup games, and
- 6 National First Division matches.
This development follows a solid partnership between the two South African broadcasters, marked by previous sub-licensing deals for the MTN8 tournament and recent Currie Cup semi-final and final matches.
BOKS TO PLAY ARGENTINA LOS PUMAS THIS WEEKEND
After their two victorious wins against the All Blacks here at home, the Springboks are out in Argentina to face the Los Pumas in a Rugby Championship clash this Saturday.
Springboks (South Africa) will play Los Pumas (Argentina) on Saturday 21 September 2024 at at Estadio Unico Madre Ciudades in Santiago.
The second leg of the clash will take place here at home, in Nelspruit on Saturday, 28 September 2024.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named a squad of 23 players for the match.
Kick-off is at 11:00pm (local time), and the game will be live on SuperSport (211).
Springbok team to face Argentina:
15 – Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 7 caps, 15 points (3t)
14 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 20 caps, 85 points (17t)
13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 75 caps, 80 points (16t)
12 – Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 38 caps, 35 pts (7t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 44 caps, 150 points (30t)
10 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 75 caps, 739 points (7t, 100c, 163p, 5dg)
9 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 35 caps, 65 pts (13t)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 29 caps, 5 points (1t)
7 – Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers) – 4 caps, 5 points (1t)
6 – Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 22 caps, 10 pts (2t)
5 – Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 4 caps, 0 points
4 – Salmaan Moerat (captain, DHL Stormers) – 9 caps, 0 points
3 – Thomas du Toit (Bath) – 20 caps, 0 pts
2 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 71 caps, 100 points (20t)
1 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 35 caps, 0 points
Replacements:
16 – Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – 2 caps, 5 points (1t)
17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 6 caps, 0 points
18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 56 caps, 0 points
19 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 126 caps, 30 points (6t)
20 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 8 caps, 0 points
21 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 47 caps, 45 points (9t)
22 – Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 16 caps, 12 pts (2t, 1c)
23 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 16 caps, 91 pts (1t, 28c, 10p)
Stats and facts:
Springbok record against Argentina:
Played 36; Won 32; Lost 3; Drawn 1; Points for: 1 239, Points against: 691; Tries scored 145, Tries conceded 65; Highest score 73-13; Biggest winning margin 60 points. Win % 88.9%.
Share your thoughts on this article and join the conversation on Twitter or Facebook.
The post Top Stories in South Africa this week: Repo rate, Inflation, Labour Department, Thabo Bester & more appeared first on YOMZANSI. Documenting THE CULTURE.
