VAT changes on the cards, and South Africa getting a new SOE

Today, 12 December, a National Investigative Task Team, formed by the Director General of the Department of Basic Education, will begin investigating a leak of matric exam papers. 

Yesterday, the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, said that seven schools in Tshwane have been implicated in the leak of three subject papers: Mathematics, English Home Language and Physical Science.

The minister insists that no innocent students will be negatively effected by the incident. 

The government Commission for Gender Equality will convene a strategic engagement today on sexual harassment in South Africa’s public sector. 

It will assess the prevalence, management, and institutional response to sexual harassment across the public sector.

The South African weather service has issued level 5 alerts for severe thunderstorms in several provinces today: in the Northern Cape, Free State, North-West and the Eastern Cape. 

The Rand is trading at R16.83 to the Dollar this morning, from R16.89 at the close of business on Thursday. 

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

VAT changes on the cards – Daily Investor

There are increasing calls to raise South Africa’s value-added tax registration threshold, which has remained the same for 16 years.

South Africa to get a new electricity SOE – Newsday

The Minister of Electricity has approved Eskom’s new unbundling plan, which recommends the creation of a new state-owned enterprise separate from Eskom.

Ramaphosa issues warning to GNU partners – TimesLive

The ANC president issued a warning to its national government coalition partners about diluting the country’s transformation agenda.

What it will cost to drive from Joburg to Cape Town this December – TopAuto

The publication compares the cost of flying from Johannesburg to Cape Town to making the trip via car.

South African student scores first-place finish at Excel world champs – MyBroadband

Pieter Pienaar has scored a first-place finish at the 2025 Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge (MECC), becoming the first South African to take the title.