With lockdown restrictions relaxed to Level 1, we’re heading into the weekend with Vooma to accelerate the country’s vaccination drive to help save lives, boost economic recovery and allow citizens to enjoy more freedoms. And the President is kicking off the Vooma Vaccination Weekends himself today.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has also been at work trying to convince the UK’s Boris Johnson to have us removed from Britain’s controversial travel red list. He’s backed by Lord Peter Hain, member of the UK’s House of Lords who has been vocal in calling for those accused of state capture in South Africa to be brought to book. In a letter to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Hain writes “the UK’s continued red listing of South Africa has no justification whatsoever in science”. A green light in the coming days could only bode well for our economy and especially our tourism sector as we head into the December peak holiday season.
Meanwhile, SA-born tech mogul Elon Musk’s Tesla is seeking exemption to Covid-19 rules for it to host a gigafest in Berlin. Large gatherings there are limited to 5,000 people, but Tesla wants to host 9,000 at the 9 October which Musk will reportedly attend.
And while we’re busy with Musk, the billionaire took another stab at space rival Jeff Bezos this week by stating in an interview with The Guardian: “You cannot sue your way to the Moon, no matter how good your lawyers are.”
In the markets, the rand is trading at R15.13 against the US dollar this morning as a stronger dollar due to taper expectations, falling commodity prices, poor economic data and power supply concerns out of China keep the local unit in check.
Here’s a roundup of the world’s top and most interesting headlines:
SA Business
Nersa rejects Eskom’s latest revenue application as it reviews pricing methods – Fin24
Reprieve for the Covid vaccine hesitant: Capitec won’t impose mandate on staff – Daily Maverick
Woolworths to hike store worker minimum wages by 24% to R41 per hour by 2023 – Fin24
Global Business
Demand for private jets soars as rich travellers try to avoid ‘mosh pit’ – The Guardian
An unapologetic old boys’ network is costing Australia billions – Bloomberg
‘Rife with sexism’: employees of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin describe ‘toxic’ workplace culture – The Verge
Market
Asian stocks extend global slide as inflation fears bite – Reuters
Netflix hits record as ‘Squid Game’ extends content-fueled rally – Bloomberg
Rally in dollar poses new challenge to China recovery – Bloomberg
Opinion/In-depth
Hushed up: Ekurhuleni Mayor Mzwandile Masina’s high-speed crash in ‘borrowed’ blue light car – Daily Maverick
South Africa’s employment tax incentive is not a success story – The Conversation
Cryptocurrencies have no intrinsic value – Jean-Pierre Verster – Biznews
Video
What’s behind the global power shortage? – Bloomberg
Higher taxes worry markets more than shutdown – Reuters
China’s Tech Tycoons Hail Xi’s Vision – Bloomberg
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