A ‘free’ South Africa in a Cold War setting, the stuff of 20th century nightmares

[View in browser]( [Mail & Guardian]( M&G Mornings | Fri 12 May   [ron_derby] With the US now accusing South Africa of providing ammunition to Russia, we’ve officially been thrown into something comparable with the Cold War setting of the middle to late 20th century. Many African nations that gained their independence after World War II were thrust into this world, where you were forced to decide if you were with the West or the communists in the East. Communism may be its nadir, but there’s still a choice that will have to be made. South Africa, as one of the most industrialised emerging market nations and with its highly liquid currency in the rand, will be increasingly pushed to take a stand. The weakness of the rand this week is testament to this. Its decline — and if it’s sustained — will only add further pressure to consumers, while exporters will smile in the short term, because their goods are priced in dollars and their costs in a weakening rand. Over the medium and longer term, miners and our other exporters will feel the pinch of a weak currency when the cost of machinery they import will keep on climbing. This is the pressure that is being brought to bear now. It will only get worse in the weeks and months to come as we await the arrival of the Russian Tsar. Our sovereignty will be tested. Ron Derby | Editor-in-Chief [@Ronderby]( [Clean bill: Professor Malegapuru Makgoba denies that the KwaZulu-Natal university has financial baggage.]( [Gordhan called for intelligence ops at Eskom: Makgoba]( The former Eskom chairperson said a maligned investigation initiated by former CEO Andre de Ruyter was first mooted by the minister [// Read more]( Articles labelled as Premium are only available to subscribers. [CLICK HERE]( to subscribe Already a subscriber? [SIGN IN HERE]( [SA Rand]( [Load-shedding, US tensions send rand into tailspin]( The local currency has weakened past R19 for the first time since April 2020 [// Read more]( [Putin Ramaphosa]( [There will be an inquiry into US claims of SA arming Russia, says Ramaphosa]( Washington has criticised the government for not adhering to its non-aligned stance [// Read more]( Recommended Reads [Editorial: Stage eight and the nation bickers on]( In all the bickering that we’ve been through over the past five years, from the long-running saga about the competence of former public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane to this week’s parliamentary hearings into André de Ruyter’s allegations of corruption at Eskom, it feels as if we aren’t making progress in dealing with the structural fault lines in our country [// Read more]( [Eskom’s woes continue to pile up]( We are a nation at risk of losing our mind in the depths of the power utility’s problems [// Read more]( Premium [Top technocrats are dumping Ramaphosa]( Another key policy adviser is said to be leaving as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s circle shrinks further This article is only available to subscribers. [View subscription options]( If you are already a subscriber, login here. [// Read more]( [Fate of John Hume’s 2 000 rhinos unclear]( Over the years, the project has built up ‘significant biological assets’, says a rhino specialist group [// Read more]( Premium [Second cheetah from South Africa dies in India]( The adult female was one of 20 cheetahs from South Africa in addition to eight cats from Namibia This article is only available to subscribers. [View subscription options]( If you are already a subscriber, login here. [// Read more]( Pic of the day [BIGPICAFRICA] Tragedy: Congolese Red Cross volunteers remove a body from the mud in Bushushu in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The death toll from flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rain has risen to about 400. At least 394 bodies have been recovered after last week’s floods that hit the villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi, said Thomas Bakenga, the administrator of Kalehe territory where the two villages are located. The United Nations has said that about 3000 families are now homeless. Photo: Guerchom Ndebo/Getty Images [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Mail & Guardian Media LTD · 25 Owl St · Braamfontein · Johannesburg, Gauteng 2001 · South Africa