Voter registration surge caps campaign period as courts tackle land reform
Plus: SA's trade surplus surprises, solar electricity offers relief, and the newspaper industry faces another week of turmoil.
TL;DR
- Final voter registration weekend was a success, the IEC said, as Ramaphosa urged voters not to let service delivery issues deter them.
- A court will hear arguments that the land expropriation bill is broken, a dispute that has strained relations with the US.
- SA posted an R18 billion trade surplus that surprised analysts, though it may not stick.
- Solar energy is cutting electricity costs for households as Ramaphosa signs off on taking the grid away from Eskom.
Politics
Voter registration caps campaign as court tackles land reform
South Africa's final voter registration weekend was a success, the Independent Electoral Commission said, with Ramaphosa urging voters not to let service delivery failures deter them from casting ballots. The drive comes as Pretoria gears up for what could be a pivotal election. (via SABC News)
Court to hear land reform challenge. The Constitutional Court will hear arguments that the land expropriation bill is fundamentally broken, a dispute that has become a flashpoint between South Africa and the United States. The bill has stalled amid legal challenges and diplomatic friction. (via News24)
PIC intervention targets governance. Ramaphosa defended the government's intervention at the Public Investment Corporation as a move to strengthen governance and stability at the state-owned pension fund, whose CEO was suspended last week amid a corruption scandal. (via SABC News)
Sobukwe monument vandalised. Robert Sobukwe's grave site was vandalised at his hometown, a fresh indignity to the Pan Africanist Congress icon ahead of the national election. (via SABC News)
Business and economy
Trade surplus surprises as the rand steadies
South Africa posted an unexpected R18 billion trade surplus, beating forecasts and offering a rare piece of good economic news, though economists warned that the gain may not hold. The data underscores the uneven nature of the recovery. (via News24)
Solar power cuts electricity bills. South Africa's households can now expect cheaper electricity when the sun shines, as a growing fleet of solar installations feeds power into the grid. The shift marks a turning point in the country's energy crisis. (via News24)
Newspaper industry in turmoil. South Africa's beleaguered newspaper sector faced another dramatic week of disruption and closures, a blow to media diversity and journalism jobs across the country. (via Moneyweb)
Regulator targets financial abuse. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority is cracking down on unlawful referrals and client data abuse by financial firms, signalling stricter enforcement of conduct rules. (via Moneyweb)
Weather and disasters
Table Mountain fire forces road closure in Cape Town
Firefighters battled a blaze on Table Mountain in Cape Town as Tafelberg Road was closed to traffic and residents were evacuated from surrounding areas. The fire comes amid Cape Town's dry season, when wildfires pose a constant threat to the city's slopes. (via News24)
Health
South Africa's LEN rollout shows early promise
South Africa's first rollout of lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable HIV prevention drug, is generating early data on uptake and reach. Bhekisisa's analysis of the LEN programme's initial results suggests the approach is reaching vulnerable populations, though broader scale-up questions remain. (via Mail & Guardian)
Technology
The great grid debate is over
The long-running debate over whether to take South Africa's electricity grid away from Eskom has ended, with Ramaphosa giving final approval to separate transmission from the state power utility. The move aims to untangle the technical and financial crises that have crippled the utility. (via TechCentral)
Entertainment
South African vineyards shrink as production shifts
South Africa's vineyard acreage is shrinking despite continued international demand for South African wine, with producers shifting away from some traditional varieties. Sauvignon Blanc is the exception, gaining ground as producers chase market preferences and adapt to changing conditions. (via News24)
Sports
Springboks prepare two-pronged attack on Argentina and New Zealand
The Springboks are preparing a two-pronged strategy for their upcoming rugby campaign, splitting the squad to face Argentina's Los Pumas and New Zealand's All Blacks in successive tests. The tactical manoeuvre showcases the squad's depth and Siya Kolisi's leadership on the international stage. (via News24)
South Africa shines at Commonwealth Games. SA's Rademeyer defied the odds to claim silver in the pole vault at the Commonwealth Games, a stellar performance in Glasgow that reflects the country's athletics depth. (via News24)
