First Take SA

This Tuesday, 10 August 2021 edition of Africa Brief we take a look at

• SADC Cross-Border Payments Become Seamless
• Agricultural Exports in Egypt Rise to 4.3 Million Tons...and...
• Nigeria's Dangote Refinery Capacity Scares Off Licensees From Investing in Petrol Refining

Victor Kgomoesoana, Director at "Africa Is Open For Business" who has also authored a new book "Africa Bounces Back", to look at this week's top African economic stories.......

EAST AFRICA: The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development - IGAD - Issues Alert Over Ageing Tanker Abandoned in the Red Sea

ANGOLA: Isabel dos Santos Ordered to Return to Angola U.S.$500 Million in Shares 'Tainted by Illegality'

NIGERIA: Nigerian Govt to Invest $2.76 Billion in Dangote Refinery, $1.5 Billion in Warri & Kaduna Refineries

The battle by education advocacy group, Section 27, to get rid of pit toilets in Limpopo schools is set to continue in the Polokwane High Court today (Friday). In 2018, Judge Gerrit Muller ordered that the Limpopo Department of Education and Department of Basic Education to develop a plan to eradicate pit toilets at Limpopo schools. Section 27 together with Equal Education, who have joined as a friend of the court, believe the plan provided by government is unconstitutional and unreasonable. For more here is Section27 communications officer, Julia Chaskalson... .

One of the most glaring surprises of last night's cabinet reshuffle announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa was his acceptance of the resignation of a long-standing request by Minister Tito Mboweni to be excused from his position as Minister of Finance. He was replaced by ANC finance guru, Enoch Gondongwana. To find out how he will be recieved by the business sector and the markets here is Dawie Roodt, chief economist  at  Efficient Group....

For some analysis of last night's cabinet reshuffle here is Prof Zwelinzima Ndevu, Director of the School of Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University....

President Cyril Ramaphosa has made some changes to his Cabinet. This saw several ministers being moved around, following the resignation of Health Minister Doctor Zweli Mkhize and Finance Minister Tito Mboweni. The president told the nation as he announced the changes in his cabinet, that this happens at a time the country is facing several challenges which needed to be attended to, with urgency. President Ramaphosa says due to the many developments in the country in recent months and weeks, some action needed to be taken to further improve governance in South Africa. However, there were no ministers who faced the axe, as Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will be deployed to a different area, where she will serve the nation. The following new appointments have been made - Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele, Communications Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Defence Minister Thandi Modise, Finance Minister Enoch Gondogwana, Health Minister Joe Paahla, Human Settlements Minister Mamoloko Kubayi, Public Service and Administration Minister Ayanda Dlodlo, Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu. The president has thanked both former Ministers, Tito Mboweni, who leaves the Finance Department and Doctor Zweli Mkhize who resigned as Health Minister, just hours before the cabinet reshuffle. For his reaction to the cabinet reshuffle here is Rev. Kenneth Meshoe, leader of the African Christian Democratic Party, ACDP...

Former president Jacob Zuma will have his in-person court hearing next week Tuesday, following a directive that the matter involving him and the Thales Group will be heard in an open court in the Pietermaritzburg High Court. The decision comes after a ruling against an application by prosecutor advocate Billy Downer, who wanted the matter to be held virtually like before. For more on this here is the spokesperson for the Jacob Zuma Foundation, Mzwanele Manyi...

The South African National Parks has announced that it is set to go cash-free from next month. The cash-free payment system will be implemented in a two-phased approach with several parks implementing from this year and the remaining parks implementing at a later stage. SANParks' Chief Financial Officer, Dumisani Dlamini elaborates....

Economic Freedom Fighters in the eThekwini region will TODAY (Thursday) march to Phoenix. The party says this is in response to the killings that occurred during the unrest last month, as well as vigilante incidents that resulted in racial tensions in the area. About 36 people were killed. The DA leader, John Steenhuisen has meanwhile written to the Human Rights Commission in an attempt to stop the march. EFF eThekwini regional spokesperson, Mazwi Blose explains why the march.....and....The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation had earlier added its voice following the unrest in Phoenix, saying that some political parties and individuals have sought to portray the entire Indian community as racist and being responsible for the killing of African people. For their reaction to TODAY'S march here is the Executive Director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation,  Neeshan Balton.....

Lobby group AfriForum has joined the lawsuit over the Independent Electoral Commission's (IEC's) ConCourt application to postpone this year's local elections. IEC chairperson Glen Mashinini, YESTERDAY confirmed that the application to the Constitutional Court will be served on all political parties. Afriforum however believes that the implementation of the correct measures will ensure that the Local Elections can continue safely, before November this year, and within the framework of the Constitution. The group's Manager for Local Government Affairs Morné Mostert gives us more details....