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

Making headlines: Courts interdicts Zuma from pursuing private prosecution against Ramaphosa, BLSA says South Africa should ensure WEF discussions reinforce COP27 energy transition plan and, rand dives after Ramaphosa cancels Davos trip over energy crisis

 

Courts interdicts Zuma from pursuing private prosecution against Ramaphosa

The South Gauteng High Court has interdicted former president Jacob Zuma from pursuing a private prosecution against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa launched an urgent interdict against Zuma's private prosecution after the former president accused him of being "an accessory after the fact" for failing to act against State prosecutor Advocate Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan for allegedly leaking Zuma’s medical records.

A day before the start of the ANC’s elective conference in December last year, Zuma issued summons for Ramaphosa to appear in court on January 19 for alleged violations of the NPA Act.

This judgement means that the president will not have to appear in a criminal court as an accused on Thursday, as had been initially scheduled.

 

BLSA says South Africa should ensure WEF discussions reinforce COP27 energy transition plan

Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busi Mavuso says South Africa should ensure the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting conversation in Davos, Switzerland, this week reinforces the country’s just energy transition plan, and that it achieves international solidarity across business and political spheres.

She believes that this will ensure that the leadership is part of the project of decarbonising the country's economy, while ensuring energy security and supporting development.

South Africa advanced plans for a Just Energy Transition Partnership with several developed countries to provide $8.5-billion to support the country's energy transition at the twenty-seventh United Nations Conference of the Parties in Egypt, in November last year.

Mavuso argues that while South Africa continues to face serious law and order challenges, including an explosion of organised crime and extortion, it must make clear to the world that the project of rebuilding institutions is working.

 

rand dives after Ramaphosa cancels Davos trip over energy crisis

Meanwhile, the rand dropped today after President Cyril Ramaphosa cancelled a trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos to deal with the country's energy crisis, as struggling state utility Eskom's worst ever power cuts continued.

The rand  traded at 17.065 against the dollar, 1.29% weaker than its previous close and its weakest level since December 1.

Executive director of ETM Analytics Quinten Bertenshaw said what we're seeing right now is potentially a realisation of the ramifications of where we are with Eskom and also a bit of unwinding in the dollar:rand shorts that were on.

Eskom said on Tuesday it would implement "Stage 6" power cuts until further notice, due to the breakdown of several power generating units.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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