For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: Rand continues to gain from Turkish rate hike, Gigaba's questioning at Gupta naturalisation inquiry postponed And, Zuma wants to 'participate meaningfully' in inquiry but is 'applying his mind'

Rand continues to gain from Turkish rate hike

The Turkish central bank on Thursday raised the benchmark interest rate from 17.75% to 24%, which caused the lira to strengthen by 4%. 

Prospects for further trade talks between the US and China and a softer dollar also helped boost the rand.

The local currency opened the day at R14.77/$ and was trading at R14.72/$ at 10:07, up 0.3% on the day.

It has now made up the losses it incurred last week in the wake of the recession announcement and a sharp dip in the Turkish lira.

Gigaba's questioning at Gupta naturalisation inquiry postponed

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba's expected questioning over the naturalisation of some members of the Gupta family didn't get out of the starting blocks as Parliament's committee opted to postpone.

The adjournment came as the committee did not have enough time to question former director general Mkuseli Apleni who had flown in after taking a day off from his new job at Discovery Bank.

Committee chairperson Hlomani Chauke also said more information was needed from Apleni and they still needed to get Ashu Chawla back from India, by summons if necessary, to answer questions on alleged improprieties in giving Ajay Gupta's mother Angoori, and sons Kamal and Surya, early naturalisation.

Zuma wants to 'participate meaningfully' in inquiry but is 'applying his mind'

Former president Jacob Zuma has responded to the judicial commission of inquiry into State capture, saying he will apply his mind to the invitation to respond to allegations made at the public hearings.

Zuma's attorneys said in a statement that his senior counsel advised the commission that former president Zuma supported the commission and wanted to participate meaningfully in the process.

According to the statement, Zuma made an election in terms of the rules of the commission that he would not apply to cross-examine the witnesses who allegedly implicated him.
 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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