September 12, 2024.

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines:

South Africa to cut rates on Sept 19 for first time since Covid-19 response

DA wins 16 wards in by-elections

And, Bavarian Nordic sees potential to ramp up mpox vaccine capacity

South Africa to cut rates on Sept 19 for first time since Covid-19 response

The South African Reserve Bank will cut its repo rate by 25 basis points to 8.00% at its September 19 meeting as slowing inflation opens the door to easier policy for the first time since its Covid-19 response over four years ago, economists say.

Eighteen of 21 economists surveyed in the past week said the Reserve Bank would cut by 25 basis points next week and other three expected rates to be held at 8.25%.

Median forecasts showed it would do so again in the next three quarters to reach 7.25% in May.

Inflation in Africa's most industrialised nation slowed to an over three-year low in July by 0.5 percentage points to 4.6%, closing in on the central bank's 3%-6% midpoint and giving the Reserve Bank a clear shot at cutting rates in coming days and months.

It is expected to average 4.7% this year and slow to 4.3% next year, 0.2 percentage points lower than last month's poll predictions for both years.

DA wins 16 wards in by-elections

The Democratic Alliance announced its “resounding success” in winning 16 wards in by-elections held across the country, yesterday.

The party contested in 17 wards, in KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, North West and Limpopo, with the party’s leader John Steenhuisen saying the results reflected the party’s growth and highlighted the “unwavering trust” that South Africans were placing in the DA’s ability to deliver clean, accountable governance.

In KwaZulu-Natal the DA won all by-elections it contested, including marginal wards. The party won eThekwini wards 33, 35 and 36, KwaDukuza Ward 6, and Umdoni Ward 15.

In JB Marks, the party celebrated winning Ward 7, Ward 22, and Ward 24.

In Matlosana, the DA took Ward 39, and in Naledi it won Ward 7.

In Limpopo, the DA retained Ward 3 in Lephalale.

The Free State was another area of success, where the DA retained control of wards 18, 20, 22 and 25 in Mangaung.

Bavarian Nordic sees potential to ramp up mpox vaccine capacity

Bavarian Nordic said it could supply 13-million doses of its mpox vaccine by the end of 2025, up from a previous forecast of 10-million doses, and is exploring options to significantly expand its capacity.

The Danish biotech company said it had also identified measures that could boost supply by another 50-million doses within the next 12 to 18 months, subject to regulatory approvals and market demand.

The company said it continues to explore additional levers that could further expand the capacity. This includes looking to transfer manufacturing to other companies either in Africa or other parts of the world.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA