Hi there. 🙋🏽♀️
A bit of good news for cash-strapped South Africans: The inflation rate fell in July for the first time in almost three years! Plus, are you worried that we’re headed for a Mpox lockdown? Fret not. But we are seeing the same sort of vaccine hoarding by the West, and we’re not impressed. Meanwhile, If the ANC gets its way, Joburg could be the testing ground for a new power-sharing model in hung municipal councils. We’ll also explain why a ceasefire in Gaza remains out of reach. Lastly, this week saw the end of Bennifer 2.0, and we South Africans lost a man who made mathematics less scary.
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. 😄
Format:
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▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ 1. OUR TAKE: Mpox crisis highlights West’s hoarding of life-saving vaccines
The COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on the unequal distribution of vaccines around the world, and now, with the emergence of Mpox, it seems the problem persists. Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, saw a surge in cases earlier this year, concentrated in Africa. Once again, the West is being accused of stockpiling vaccines.
To date, 12 African countries have reported 2,863 cases and 517 deaths, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo being the hardest hit. Last week, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global public health emergency of international concern—the second time this designation has been used in two years.
Locally, things seem under control. As of Sunday, the Department of Health in South Africa reported 24 Mpox cases. Of those, 19 have recovered, three have died, and two remain active.
Mpox spreads through close contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials. Its incubation period usually lasts six to 13 days, but it can range from five to 21 days. Most cases resolve within one to two weeks, but the virus can be more severe in children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
But there’s no need to panic about another lockdown. According to Professor Michael Marks from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, while Mpox is concerning, it’s unlikely to become a global pandemic. “Good public health interventions should significantly curb its spread. The challenge is that people with mild symptoms might not realise they have Mpox,” Marks told The Guardian.
Health experts have called on Western nations to share their stockpiles and support manufacturing efforts in developing countries. Life-saving treatments must be accessible to all, no matter where they live.
▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ BIG STORY: The rand, inflation, and the hopes of a rate cut
Has the Rand been taking briefing notes from our sporting champs? It’s been on a jagged but mostly stronger trend against the dollar since the May elections, recently trading at 17.8450. (In October last year, it was R19.30!) It’s thanks to a range of global and local factors including the reduced probability of an ANC-EFF coalition. But the real star of the show lately is the inflation rate, which just hit a three-year low in July, dropping to 4.6% from 5.1% in June.
Why should you care? Well, this lower-than-expected inflation rate (economists were betting on 4.9%) means that the rate of price increases might finally slow. This could prompt the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) to get antsy in a good way—they might just cut interest rates.
Lower interest rates make borrowing money cheaper. That’s good news whether you’re planning to take out a loan or just want your monthly bond payment to feel less like an ambush on your wallet. And honestly, who wouldn’t want a little easing after the financial tension we’ve all been under?
Economists and market watchers are pretty excited. There’s even talk that we might see not just one but two rate cuts before the year is out—a 25-basis-point cut in September, followed by another in November. “The SARB has definitely run out of excuses to not cut interest rates… and might have to consider a bigger cut,” according to independent economist Elize Kruger.
A rate cut could spur further good news on the investment front, as companies will spend more (as will consumers), boost returns, and attract more investors. We’ve already seen some positive movement, with the Top-40 index closing 0.33% higher than the previous month.
In a nutshell, things are looking up. If the SARB goes ahead with a rate cut in September, your budget might just breathe a sigh of relief—and we can all get behind that. Cheers to that!
▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ BRIEFS
3. Farewell to the nation’s teacher: William Smith passes away at 82
A true educational icon has been lost. William Smith, the beloved television teacher who made mathematics and science less terrifying for millions, passed away yesterday at the age of 82 after a short battle with cancer. 😢
Smith was a household name for anyone who grew up in the ‘80s or ‘90s and was the face of The Learning Channel.
Born on 25 June 1939, Smith wrote textbooks, trained teachers, and was deeply involved in improving science and mathematics education in South Africa.
Smith’s approach was rooted in the belief that learning should be enjoyable. His creative methods, like describing carbon as “the proverbial queer, he can love anybody,” held the attention of even the naughtiest students. In 2019, he was awarded the Order of the Baobab in Silver. However, his influence wasn’t limited to South Africa. At one point, Smith had a daily viewership of over 100 million across Africa, teaching students from different countries, syllabi, and languages.
Around 2015, Smith and his wife followed their daughters to Australia and lived in Perth, according to a profile by Mandy Wiener. She wrote: “Prior to emigrating, he went to see the country’s Education Minister (which he declines to name) to propose a revolutionary teaching programme to be rolled out in collaboration with the government… the Minister told him she could not support him politically as it would be the end of her career, even though she knew the project would work. It left Smith devastated, believing she was more concerned with her own political survival than the education of millions of children.”
As we bid farewell to “South Africa’s favourite teacher,” we remember a man who made learning an adventure. But we also remember the legacy he fought for. We’re sure that our new Basic Education Minister, the DA’s Siviwe Gwarube, who is just 35, will also fondly remember Smith – and hopefully double down on his vision to revolutionise teaching in the country.
4.Hope, change, and Lil Jon: The Obamas rally behind Kamala Harris at the DNC
The Obamas brought the house down at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday. However, the race to keep former President Donald Trump from his Oval Office comeback tour is still tight.
A quick refresher: US politics is dominated by two parties. In one corner, you have the Republican Party led by Donald Trump, who’s promising to “make America great again—again.” On the other hand, the Democrats are currently in power, with Joe Biden as the President. However, at 81 with declining health, Biden was persuaded not to seek re-election, and he is passing the baton to Kamala Harris, his Vice President, to make history as the first female president, if she wins. 😍
Think of it as the ANC or DA’s elective conference, but with more literal and metaphorical fireworks. This year’s shindig runs from Monday to Thursday in Chicago, bringing together the Democratic faithful from all 50 states.
Tuesday was day two, and the Obamas, America’s forever first couple, hit the stage. Barack and Michelle delivered back-to-back zingers aimed squarely at Trump.
Michelle championed Harris, called out Trump for his privilege of failing upwards, and took on one of the big issues at stake: reproductive rights. Harris has promised to sign a national law restoring abortion rights at a state level if she wins.
The night even featured rapper Lil Jon, who sang “V.P. Harris … Governor Walz” to the tune of “To the window … to the wall!” from his hit, “Get Low”.
Democratic supporters and Trump sceptics worldwide are buzzing after this show of force. An average of polls by the New York Times this week saw Harris pulling slightly ahead of Trump. But it’s too close to call, and Trump remains a formidable opponent despite his legal troubles.
If you’re wondering why this matters to us down south, remember: when America sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold—and no one wants a Trump flu. As we’ve reported, another Trump presidency would be bad for all of us. We’ll be keeping a close eye on this one.
5. South African sporting dominance: Springboks and Du Plessis shine in Perth
Perth, Australia, turned into Perthfontein this past weekend as South African sports descended into the city for two epic showdowns: the Springboks vs Wallabies and Dricus du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya in the UFC middleweight championship fight. South African sports fans had much to celebrate as the Springboks overcame harsh conditions to triumph over the Wallabies.
At the same time, Du Plessis stunned the MMA world with a historic win, with Springbok players cheering him on from the sidelines.📣
Despite challenging conditions, the Springboks’ resilience and tactical discipline kept them firmly in contention for the Rugby Championship title, which they have not won since before the COVID-19 lockdown.
Many commentators noted that the crowd was basically a solid wall of green and gold as South African expats turned to the stadium in large numbers. Australia is the second most popular destination for South African emigres, according to a Business Tech list, with Perth the second most popular city, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It was the second game of the Rugby Championship in Australia, which looked like a home game for the Boks. Perthfontein, indeed!
Meanwhile, Du Plessis took centre stage at UFC 293 in Perth’s RAC Arena, delivering a shock upset by defeating the reigning middleweight champion, Adesanya, via a stunning second-round knockout.
The atmosphere in the arena was electrified by the presence of the victorious Springbok players, who had come straight from their rugby triumph to support their fellow countryman. Among them were Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth, who walked out with the fighter before his fight. Du Plessis credited his victory to his hard work and the energy he felt from his supporters, including the Springbok contingent, who chanted and celebrated each moment of his success.
For Australia’s South African expat community, this weekend was a perfect celebration of their nation’s sporting excellence. The dual victories in Perth made this weekend an unforgettable national pride for South Africans worldwide.
6. Could localising the GNU model revive the ANC in councils?
If the ANC gets its way, the Government of National Unity (GNU) model could be implemented in local councils across SA.
The party proposes the GNU approach to stabilising local government coalitions, hoping to revive its political standing before the 2026 local government elections.
The liberation movement had a tough election – national support dropped to 40% for the first time. This led to a coalition with the Democratic Alliance and eight other parties. The ANC hopes to renegotiate local coalitions based on shared objectives tailored to each municipality’s unique challenges.
At a recent meeting of the party top brass, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Parks Tau, was tasked with leading a group to turn around the ANC’s struggling local governments.
Johannesburg, where Tau served as mayor from 2011 to 2016, is set to be the first test of this model – and boy does it need it. However, in recent weeks, similar strategies have started playing out in places like the Oudtshoorn Local Municipality, where the Freedom Front Plus voted with the ANC and gave the DA’s Chris Macpherson the boot during a special council meeting earlier this month.
While the ANC-led Gauteng provincial leadership under Panyaza Lesufi has followed a different script from the national structures, the party’s Dada Morero’s election as Joburg’s mayor on Friday, 16 August, might see the metro adopting the program.
Critics, however, remain doubtful. Speaking to Financial Mail, political analyst Susan Booysen questioned whether the ANC can bring about real change in time for the 2026 elections, pointing out that many of these issues have deep roots. “I think [that even if] they can have another 30 years, they won’t be able to fix [things]. The problems are so immense, and two years is a very short time,” she said.
Booysen argued that the ANC itself is the reason the instability it now seeks to fix exists. We agree.
7. Bennifer no more: JLo and Ben Affleck call it quits—again
Grab the tissues because one of Hollywood’s most iconic couples has decided to call it quits—again. Yes, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are getting divorced, marking the end of Bennifer 2.0. 💔
You’re not alone if you’re feeling a bit of déjà vu. Let’s rewind briefly: JLo and Ben first got together in 2002, when flip phones were the height of technology and Jenny from the Block was topping the charts. They were the ultimate early-2000s power couple, complete with a giant pink diamond engagement ring.
But alas, their love story fizzled out in 2004 just days before their wedding, thanks to what they said was intense public scrutiny. They went their separate ways, married other people and had children. But they made us all believe in second chances when they rekindled their romance nearly two decades later in 2021. It was like a plot twist no one saw coming—except perhaps script writers for the disastrous Love Story musical movie Jen funded, inspired by their story.
Bennifer 2.0 seemed stronger than ever, with the pair tying the knot in a Las Vegas ceremony in July 2022, followed by a more extravagant celebration. They became the poster couple for rekindled love, but trouble seemed to hit with Ben looking miserable at public appearances like the Grammy Awards. (He has a hilarious history of getting meme’d looking sad.)
As they say, love is a many-splendored thing—and also quite complicated. After two years of marriage, the couple has decided to part ways again. According to reports, it’s all very amicable, with both focused on what’s best for their kids.
As for what’s next for JLo, who’s now four marriages in? Knowing her, she’ll keep shining and surprising us—maybe not with wedding bells for a while.
8. Ceasefire deal in Gaza remains elusive as U.S. diplomatic efforts struggle to gain ground
This past week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was on an intense diplomatic tour to the Middle East to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. He met Qatari government officials (who are acting as mediators between Israel and Hamas) in hopes of brokering a temporary truce. While Blinken is pushing for a humanitarian ceasefire to allow aid into Gaza and enable civilians to evacuate from conflict zones, the negotiations are not going anywhere. Israel’s aggressive military campaign continues unabated, the civilian death toll continues to mount, while a permanent ceasefire to end the war remains elusive.
On the ground, both sides remain entrenched in their positions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government views Hamas as an existential threat, particularly after the group’s devastating attacks on Israel on October 7.
For its part, Hamas has expressed a willingness to entertain temporary pauses in fighting to facilitate humanitarian aid, particularly as conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate. The narrow strip of land has been under relentless bombardment since the war began, and the humanitarian crisis has deepened, with civilians facing dire shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. However, any lasting ceasefire would require significant concessions from Israel, something Netanyahu has been unwilling to entertain thus far.
The war continues to rage, with no clear resolution in sight, as both sides refuse to back down from their entrenched positions.
The brutal manner in which Israel has conducted this war prompted South Africa to seek a ruling from the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide. While the court did hand down a provisional ruling, which urged Israel to ensure the protection of civilians, a final ruling may be years away. Meanwhile, in a separate case before the International Criminal Court, Palestine has sought arrest warrants for top Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, on charges relating to war crimes and crimes against humanity, citing how humanitarian aid has been systemically blocked from Gaza.
As Blinken’s diplomatic push continues, the prospects for a ceasefire remain uncertain, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza grows increasingly desperate.
That’s it from us at The Wrap, an award-winning 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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