Outgoing National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Investigating Directorate (ID) boss Hermione Cronje served her last day in the job on Monday. Today, there’s already a new person helming the desk. It was an uncharacteristically decisive bit of action from Cyril Ramaphosa last night with Advocate Andrea Johnson appointed to the position by the president.
Johnson comes with more than 25 years of experience at the NPA and is currently a senior deputy director. She was instrumental in the prosecution of former top cop Jackie Selebi and disgraced Paralympian Oscar Pistorius as well as investigations into Brett Kebble.
In a statement released on Monday evening, the presidency said Johnson’s appointment came “at an important time in the country’s effort to act decisively against individuals involved in state capture and corruption”.
She had previously applied for the top job at the NPA, back in 2018, but Ramaphosa ultimately appointed Shamila Batohi to the position.
Johnson is known as a straight shooter, unafraid of talking truth to power and never shy of naming and shaming former Zuma administration members who attempted to interfere with the work of the NPA while it was under the leadership of former boss and Zuma ally, Shaun Abrahams.
But Johnson is going to have to be tough as nails as an apparent smear campaign against her has already started with a news report released just before her appointment alleging, she is “embroiled in cover-up allegations stemming from suspicious calls with an allegedly corrupt cop”.
The new ID head submitted an affidavit to the NPA clarifying her position and denying any allegations of wrongdoing or misconduct.
Johnson was most recently working on the NPA task team responsible for implementing the recommendations of the State Capture report. She will be expected to deliver on State Capture prosecutions in her new role.
Meanwhile, the NPA succeeded in getting Interpol to issue red notices for Gupta brothers, Atul and Rajesh. The pairs’ lawyers have said they will be challenging the notices and accused the NPA of “material misrepresentations.”
Remember to fill up your car’s tank today with the petrol price set to increase to a record high of R21.60 in Gauteng and R20.88 a litre in coastal provinces from tomorrow.
The rising fuel costs are attributed mainly to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and could have been much worse had the rand not stabilised against the US dollar in recent weeks.
The Automobile Association has cautioned that the rising fuel costs will hit the poorest among us the hardest while a continued rise will have a negative effect on inflation. The outlook for April remains unknown due to Russia’s ongoing military action.
“One silver lining, though, is that any potential increases will not be combined with increases to fuel taxes as the minister of finance earlier this week announced the General Fuel and Road Accident Fund levies will not increase this year. This is good news, but must be tempered by what happens in the next few weeks to the overall pricing of fuel,” said the Association.
In Ukraine, satellite images show a 40-mile long Russian military convoy en route to the capital city of Kyiv. Ukrainian and Russian delegations met yesterday at the Belarussian border for the first time to discuss the invasion by Russian forces. Russia has not been clear about what it wants from the discussions while Ukraine has said they want the total withdrawal of Russian troops from the country and a ceasefire.
The discussions went on for hours before ending in the early evening yesterday with both delegations set to return to their capitals to discuss the proceedings. It was hoped that peace talks would arise from the meeting at the border but even as the meeting was taking place, Russia continued with its onslaught while the latest convoy images also suggest otherwise.
In the markets, with ongoing talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials, the markets stabilised somewhat overnight. Yesterday the rand dropped 2.4% against the US dollar but managed to claw its way back, closing just 1.5% weaker at R15.36/$.
“This morning the Rand is trading unchanged at R15.36, and we need a move back below the R15.35 level to see a possible bigger correction down to R15.25 in the short term,” comments forex trading house TreasuryONE.
On the commodity front, precious metals have opened flat during the morning trade in the Far East. Gold is at $1,905, platinum at $1,043, and palladium at $2,488. Brent crude trading lower this morning and is currently trading at $99.00 a barrel.
Here’s a roundup of the world’s top and most interesting headlines:
SA Business
Quotas for foreign workers: Offending employers to be fined R100 000 – Fin24
New minimum wage for South Africa from March – BusinessTech
Government says too many skilled people have left South Africa – and it wants to bring them back – BusinessTech
Global Business
UK asks ports to block Russian ships, including any vessels connected with Russia – Business Insider
Shell to exit Russian partnerships as political pressure mounts – Fin24/Bloomberg
Elon Musk’s SpaceX Satellite Dishes Arrive in Ukraine, Drawing Minister’s Thanks – Bloomberg/DM
Markets
Asian equities rise, oil rally slows as volatility eases for now – AFP
Oil prices rise as Ukraine conflict stokes supply concerns – Channel News Asia
Gold Up, but Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Talks and Western Sanctions Dulls Appeal – Investing.com
Opinion/In-depth
Climate change means Russia can turn food into a weapon – Fin24/Bloomberg
As BP and Shell Exit Russia, These Companies Still Have Ties – Bloomberg/DM
Lessons and consequences for Africa from Putin’s moves and missteps in Ukraine – Daily Maverick
Video
‘Ukraine joining NATO is the red line’ – Russian delegate at UNGA – EWN
Russia-Ukraine conflict’s economic impact on South Africa – eNCA
WATCH | Pushed, shoved and ‘shot at’: South Africans fleeing Ukraine claim poor treatment at border – News24
Caption: Hermione Cronje and Shamila Batohi. Image: GCIS
