Suspended police minister relieved of party duties, and potential VAT hikes

Today, 12 November, the rand is trading at R17.16 — the same as its close on Tuesday. However, it has strengthened over the past week, having sat at R17.40 last Wednesday.

Appearing in Parliament yesterday, Deputy President Paul Mashatile told MPs that the Government of National Unity is coherent and working well.

He added that the parties “have found one another” and have learnt from the budget disagreement, which caused Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to revise it twice.

At the Madlanga Commission yesterday, the retired Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department deputy, Revo Spies, called the department a “criminal enterprise.”

This comes after he alleged that an EMPD officer who had been convicted of his wife’s murder was recently reappointed after being released on parole, pointing to the department’s vetting process as flawed.

In Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating police corruption, the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Shamila Batohi, refused to identify the prosecutor implicated in intelligence reports of misconduct in front of the media.

MPs therefore voted in favour of a closed session where she could reveal the name behind closed doors.

Here are five other big things happening in South Africa today:

Deputy metro police chief suspended in South Africa – Newsday

The City of Ekurhuleni has placed Deputy Chief of Police, Julius Mkhwanazi, on suspension, effective yesterday, 11 November. The suspension follows allegations against Mkhwanazi of murder, theft, abuse of power and tampering with a crime scene.

Potential VAT Increases in Medium-Term Budget – BusinessTech

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is set to deliver the Medium-term Budget Policy Statement today. This follows several attempts to pass the initial budget that were stalled due to a proposed increase in Value-Added Tax (VAT). 

Suspended police minister relieved of his duties – SABC

Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has asked to be relieved of his duties in the National Executive Committee and the National Working Committee. The African National Congress (ANC) has granted this wish, despite rejecting his earlier offer to step aside. 

Cholera vaccine trials begin in Johannesburg – TimesLive

Clinical trials for the first locally manufactured oral cholera vaccine were launched yesterday at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Johannesburg. The vaccine, developed by Biovac, aims to counter increasing cholera outbreaks across Africa. 

Wits students protest after SRC member accused of Rape – EWN

Protests have broken out across the University of the Witwatersrand against gender-based violence after a student was allegedly raped by a newly elected Student Representative Council (SRC) member. The accused has been suspended.