17 October 2024

/ The Wrap /

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This week, we honour the life of the unforgettable Tito Mboweni, who sadly passed away at 65. Known for keeping Mzansi's economy on track and attempting to cook (remember those questionable fish dishes?), Tito will be missed.

Meanwhile, Gauteng might be running dry faster than Tito's Twitter recipes, thanks to leaking reservoirs, and the Competition Commission is turning up the heat on rising food prices. But it's not all doom and gloom—Gauteng courts are set to get a boost from the JSC interviews, and Mzansi proved it knows how to "make the pots happen" as R21.4 billion was withdrawn from retirement savings thanks to the two-pot system.

South African sports and entertainment served us some serious star power to round off the week. Tyla lit up the Victoria's Secret Show, and Phumelela Cafu continued his journey toward becoming a boxing legend.

So, let's dive into your weekly update of empowering and easy-to-understand news, brought to you by Verashni Pillay and the explain.co.za team. 😄

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OUR TAKE: As JSC interviews conclude, calls for reforms grow

This past week, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) wrapped up another round of interviews to fill 54 vacancies in South Africa's top courts. The process has left many calling for reform. The interviews, held twice a year, often face scrutiny for their length and content, but this session seemed particularly fraught with tension. Questions around transformation, diversity, and the future of South Africa's judiciary were at the forefront.

The JSC is a constitutional body responsible for ensuring the judicial appointment process's fairness, transparency, and integrity. It interviews, assesses, and recommends candidates for judicial positions before submitting their recommendations to the president, who makes the final decision. 

However, candidates increasingly face political questions on land reform, gender-based violence, and political involvement, in addition to questions over their legal qualifications and track record. Critics argue that some commissioners seem more interested in interrogating candidates' political leanings than their judicial capabilities. 

The Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE), one of Mzansi's leading think tanks, has offered solutions to reform what they call a "captured JSC." Their suggestions include reducing the outsized representation of politicians and including more legal professionals to ensure a fairer, less biased process.

Back to the interviews, the JSC made recommendations across ten courts but couldn't fill a vacancy in the Eastern Cape Divisions of the High Court in Mthatha nor one in the Constitutional Court. For the latter, the JSC did not receive enough nominations. 

It is now up to President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint the recommended candidates.

Filling these vacancies, particularly in Gauteng, has become urgent as a judicial shortage is severely hampering justice delivery to the public. Allison Tilley, coordinator at Judges Matters, says that civil trial dates are now being pushed to 2029, and if your trial runs longer than five days, you won't get a hearing before 2025.

Thankfully, these JSC interviews—while flawed and in need of reform—have started the process of filling those vacancies. Here's to our courts running smoothly.

BIG STORY: Tito Mboweni: a champion of fiscal discipline and questionable pilchard stew

On Saturday, Tito Mboweni, one of South Africa's most influential leaders, passed away at 65. Here's a closer look at the man who balanced leading South Africa's economy with a surprising amount of humour (and a few questionable stews).

As the country's first black Reserve Bank governor in 1999, he transformed South Africa's financial landscape, growing foreign reserves from around R177 billion to nearly R709 billion. His steady hand kept the country stable through challenging times.

Mboweni's tenure as finance minister (2018-2021) saw him championing fiscal discipline and tackling corruption head-on. Unafraid of tough decisions, he often clashed with political elites, but his focus was always on long-term sustainability.

Before all this, he served as the post-apartheid labour minister, skillfully balancing workers' rights with economic growth. He was also a pan-African visionary, advocating for a strong African Union and encouraging the diaspora to invest in the continent's future.

Known for his bluntness on corruption, Tito was a rare politician who demanded accountability at every level. He believed small corrupt acts could quickly escalate into larger problems. He also firmly believed in intergenerational leadership, mentoring young leaders and advocating for their inclusion in governance.

But Tito had a playful side. He became a social media sensation, winning fans among younger generations, who affectionately dubbed him the "Minister of Cooking," thanks to his Twitter posts showcasing his culinary experiments. His love for Lucky Star pilchards grew into something of a cultural moment. Since his passing, South African netizens have called on the brand to release a limited-edition tin featuring Tito's face as a tribute to his culinary enthusiasm.

Mboweni's passing leaves a significant void, but his legacy as a leader and a man who didn't take himself too seriously lives on. Rest easy, Tito. You've done more than enough—and the world is better for it.

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Tito Mboweni, as finance minister, delivers the 2018 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement in parliament Photo: GovernmentZA, Flickr

Rising South African musician Tyla took to the Victoria’s Secret runway in New York on Tuesday during their attempted 2024 comeback. Tyla wowed the audience with a performance of her hit Water plus new track Push 2 Start, wearing a metallic ensemble and, of course, angel wings. Fellow Southern Africans, models Candice Swanepoel and Behati Prinsloo, also returned to the runway, reminding us that our part of the world is a powerhouse of beauty and talent.

But let’s pause for a second. Victoria’s Secret, once known for its glitzy, high-profile fashion shows, took a four-year hiatus, and this event was their big comeback. The brand promised a revamped show with more diversity and inclusivity, trying to move away from the porn-lite images of the past, which had drawn heavy criticism. However, as the New York Times (NYT) notes, this comeback isn’t without its baggage.

Back in 2020, an NYT investigation exposed troubling issues, including a toxic workplace culture, sexual harassment allegations, and a glaring lack of inclusivity. Former executive Ed Razek was at the centre of these problems, with claims that he harassed models and fostered an environment that reduced women to mere objects. The brand has since tried to rebrand itself, introducing more body diversity and aligning itself with modern values. But attempting to shake off its problematic past isn’t easy, especially when its earlier image was all about unattainable standards of beauty. 

Still, we’re thrilled Tyla got her moment to shine on a global stage, showcasing her talent and flying the SA flag high. There’s no denying her star power, and it’s great to see her grab this opportunity, even if Victoria’s Secret itself is still struggling with its image transformation.

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The Tyla Deluxe album cover. Photo: @Tyllaaaaaaa, X

If you’ve found yourself wincing at the grocery till lately, you’re not alone. Despite headlines boasting of dropping production costs, essential food items remain stubbornly high. The Competition Commission has raised a red flag, and the working class is rightfully furious.

So, why are your bread and oil still costing an arm and a leg? The latest Essential Food Price Monitoring Report from the Competition Commission is at the heart of the issue. It turns out that retailers may be widening their profit margins instead of passing savings down to consumers. While the costs of producing key items like wheat and sunflower oil have dropped, store prices have hardly budged. Brown bread prices are up, sunflower oil is rock steady, and don’t get us started on the cost of eggs.

Unions, including Saftu and Giwusa, accuse retailers of squeezing both ends—low wages for workers and high prices for consumers. Saftu calls this “profitability extracted from the working class,” and they’ve got a point.

Meanwhile, top executives aren’t struggling. Woolworths’ CEO reportedly pockets R123 million annually, 1,308 times more than the company’s lowest-paid worker. Shoprite’s boss takes home R65 million, while Spar’s CEO earns R25 million. It’s enough to make you resent the fact that your weekly shop feels like buying a small car.

The good news? The Competition Commission says a strengthening rand, lower fuel prices, and easing inflation should eventually lead to lower food prices. For now, the Competition Commission is keeping a close eye on the situation. It’s not triggering any major investigations yet, but as economist Kagiso Zwane from the commission pointed out, “that option does exist going forward” if things don’t start improving.

The grocery giants have been put on notice. It’s time they started passing down those savings. 

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A Mother Carrying Her Daughter and Shopping Basket. Photo: Greta Hoffman, Pexels

Nearly 80 years ago, the world witnessed one of humanity’s most horrifying moments: the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan using nuclear weapons. The blasts killed between 150,000 and 246,000 people, mostly civilians, and left a lasting scar on global history. Fast forward to 2024, and the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots organisation founded by survivors of those bombings – known as Hibakusha – who have dedicated their lives to ensuring nuclear weapons are never used again.

The Peace Prize has historically been awarded to individuals or groups that have made strides in promoting peace. Past laureates include former South African presidents Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk, as well as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, for their efforts in ending apartheid. 

This year’s recognition couldn’t have come at a better time. Nuclear threats are growing, particularly with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin making veiled nuclear threats since the invasion of Ukraine and North Korea continuing its quest for nuclear superpower status. The Nobel committee seems to be sending a strong message, noting: “At this moment in human history, it’s worth reminding ourselves what nuclear weapons are – the most destructive weapons the world has ever seen.”

The Nihon Hidankyo survivors have been tireless advocates, pushing the world to remember the horrors of nuclear warfare and urging that such destruction never be repeated. No nuclear weapon has been used in war since 1945, thanks in large part to their efforts.

The organisation’s co-chair, Toshiyuki Mimaki, was surprised when they won the award. Mimaki, who was just three years old when the bombs were dropped, drew a chilling parallel between the current conflict in Gaza and Japan’s suffering 80 years ago: “In Gaza, children in blood are being held. It’s like in Japan 80 years ago.” Israel’s ambassador to Japan, Gilad Cohen, calling the comparison “baseless and outrageous.”

As nuclear threats loom large again, Nihon Hidankyo's work feels more urgent than ever. The Nobel Peace Prize is a timely reminder that the fight against the use of nuclear weapons is far from over.

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The Nobel Peace Prize from 1995 which was awarded to Joseph Rotblat and the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. Photo: Chris Campbell, Flickr

Gauteng is teetering on the brink of a water disaster, with reservoirs dangerously low and the threat of Day Zero looming. Two of the province's biggest municipalities, Tshwane and Joburg, are scrambling to implement measures to avoid the taps running dry. The warnings have been coming for months, but the situation has reached a crisis point.

We've told you over this year about Gauteng's growing water woes. Joburg Water, the city's water utility, revealed to councillors on Friday that 42 of its 87 reservoirs are leaking.😱 Joburg Water called the meeting with the councillors to urge them to ask the residents in their communities to use less water.

Meanwhile, Tshwane has introduced level-one water restrictions, warning that higher levels—and steeper water bills—could follow if conditions don't improve.

So what's driving the crisis? It's a combination of overconsumption, climate change, and ageing infrastructure. Johannesburg residents use 279 litres of water per person daily — 60% more than the global average. Meanwhile, outdated pipes leak around 40% of water, and El Niño-induced droughts have further reduced the supply.

So, what can be done to salvage the situation? Water experts like Ayesha Laher and Professor Anja du Plessis are urging innovative technology to detect leaks and improve infrastructure. 

Rand Water has urged municipalities to repair leaks, enforce by-laws, and address illegal connections. If you're a resident of Gauteng, consider being mindful of your water consumption. Rethink washing your car or watering your lawn, fix or report leaks and follow your municipality's water restrictions. We all should participate in this fight to save water for future generations.

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Tap with flowing water. Photo: Skitterphoto, Pexels

Phumelela Cafu, the newly crowned WBO junior-bantamweight world champion, has achieved his dream joining the ranks of South Africa's boxing legends. Cafu won the title after defeating Japanese boxer Kosei Tanaka by a split decision at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on Monday,13 October.

In the fifth round, Cafu knocked Tanaka down, winning the fight. Reflecting on his win, Cafu said: "I'm really excited that I won. Coming to Japan, I knew it wouldn't be easy taking the title away from the champion, but I knew I had what it takes, so I'm glad I finally became the world champion."

In his first fight outside South Africa, Cafu demonstrated resilience, improving his record to 11 wins, including eight knockouts and three draws. The 26-year-old from Duncan Village in East London also thanked Mzamo Mapetla, a highly respected trainer, for refining his skills.

People from Cafu’s hometown posted on Instagram to express their pride and congratulate the star for flying South Africa's flag high.

ESPN Africa announced the news on X, and the tweet quickly garnered responses, with Cassandra Bianca commenting, "South Africans are a vibe hey. Winning at everything, proud of you, well done champion!" Another user, @AfrikanChefZA, tweeted, "We are just showing off." Nthaneleng added, "Every day in South Africa, we celebrate one of our athletes."

Cafu's victory marks a personal achievement and adds to South Africa's growing legacy in global boxing and sports. It’s been a tremendous year for South African sport! 

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Phumelela Cafu. Photo: @MelelaCafu, X

South Africa’s two-pot retirement system has seen a massive R21.4 billion withdrawn by over 1.2 million eager taxpayers.

In case you’ve been living under a rock (or simply avoiding your tax returns, no judgement), the two-pot system was introduced on 1 September. The goal? To ease financial pressure by allowing South Africans to access part of their retirement savings before they actually retire. One-third of your savings pot is now fair game if you need it, while the rest is tucked away for your golden years.

But don’t start planning that island getaway with your newfound cash just yet. 

SARS commissioner Edward Kieswetter has quickly reminded us that things like outstanding tax debt or dodgy tax declarations could affect your payout. If you owe the taxman money, he’ll take his cut before you see a cent. In fact, if you have an arrangement with SARS to settle your debt, they’ll make sure that’s deducted, too.

Remember that when you dip into your retirement pot, you’re not just withdrawing free money. Depending on your income, SARS will take a chunk – anything from 18% to 45%. So, while it may feel good to get that cash now, you’ll share a good portion with Uncle SARS.

Kieswetter also issued a stern warning to those trying to game the system. Over 213,000 South Africans have been caught understating their income to get a more favourable tax rate. SARS is watching, and they’re not amused. Kieswetter clarified that this behaviour “borders on criminality,” and penalties are coming for those who thought they could slip under the radar. In short – if you’ve been less than honest, expect a not-so-friendly letter from SARS soon.

So, where does this leave us? The two-pot system is a lifeline for many but comes with strings attached. Tax implications, debt deductions, and potential penalties for dodgy tax declarations make it clear that this isn’t just “free money.” But for those who need immediate financial relief, it’s a game-changer.

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 Man Hands Holding Wallet and Cash. Photo: Edge Training, Pexels

That’s it from us at The Wrap, a product of explain.co.za – simple news summaries for busy people.

The Wrap is sponsored by explain’s agency division. We specialise in content marketing for purpose-driven organisations, often with a pan-African reach. Mail info@explain.co.za for a quote. 

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