US Senate approves AGOA extension, and Eskom says load-shedding is likely to return

Today, 4 February, the Rand is trading at R15.94 to the Dollar, breaching the R16 mark once again, from R15.98 at the close of business on Tuesday. 

Leader of the Democratic Alliance, John Steenhuisen, will make an announcement today at the Riverside Hotel in Durban, which he has said will be of national importance. 

Many insiders from the party are expecting him to announce that he will not stand for a third term as DA leader in the party’s upcoming elective congress in April. 

Former President Jacob Zuma and French arms company Thales will return to the Pietermaritzburg High Court today. 

The former president and the company will hear if the long-delayed corruption trial against them for the 1999 arms deal will continue or not, after their latest bid to halt the process. 

The Madlanga Commission will continue hearing the testimony of “witness F” today, whose identity has been protected. 

On Tuesday, the witness discussed their relationship with suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya and Steve Motsumi, a man believed to own a security company.

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

US Senate approves AGOA extension – EWN

The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has been given approval from the US Senate for an extension until the end of 2026, including South Africa, though President Trump will have the final say. 

Load-shedding likely to return – MyBroadBand

Eskom forecasts a high risk of load-shedding returning before the end of the decade, unless the shutdown of coal-fired power stations is delayed or new gas power comes online faster than expected.

Another mass shooting rocks Gauteng – Timeslive

Six people were shot dead, and several others were injured on Tuesday afternoon on the R59 Road in Meyerton, south of Johannesburg. According to police, two suspects hve been arrested in connection with the incident. 

Calls mount for Ramaphosa to testify in the Madlanga Commission – Newsday

Committee members have put forward President Cyril Ramaphosa’s name to Parliament’s legal team to assess whether the President should appear in person before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry investigating the capture of the police and the criminal justice system.

Allegations of corruption in Western Cape prisons – SABC

Minister of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald, says there is a need to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate the high number of incidents in Western Cape prisons, as the minister suspects that prison officials are involved in these occurrences.