May 29, 2023
South Africa: Reserve Bank Warns of a Shock to the System Over SA's 'Neutral' Russia-Ukraine Stance
The South African Reserve Bank has warned that perceptions that South Africa's 'neutral' stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict is a Potemkin one could have devastating consequences… Read more »
May 28, 2023
South Africa: South Africa Risks Becoming a Failed State, Business Leaders Warn
Big business supported Cyril Ramaphosa when he threw his hat in the ring for the ANC presidency in 2017. But the goodwill around him is fading fast. Read more »
South Africa: Court Castigates Energy Minister On Axing of Anti-Nuclear Activist, Denies Leave to Appeal
The Western Cape High Court has dismissed the applications of Minister Gwede Mantashe and the National Nuclear Regulator for leave to appeal against its ruling that the axing of… Read more »
South Africa: 'Remove Your Bulldozers,' Judge Orders Tendele Coal Mining Company
Rural residents in KwaZulu-Natal have scored another legal victory against the Johannesburg-based Tendele coal mining company, winning an interim court interdict that compels the… Read more »
May 25, 2023
South Africa: Eskom Bailout Legislation Passes in the House, With Sharp Politicking and Gerrymandering
Eskom received parliamentary approval for its R254bn bailout after the House on Thursday passed the Eskom Debt Relief Bill -- but not before a bit of parliamentary sleight of hand. Read more »
South Africa: Rand Hits Record Low Despite Reserve Bank Hiking Interest Rates By 50 Basis Points
The rand sank to a record low on Thursday after the statement by the South African Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee and subsequent comments by the governor painted a bleak… Read more »
May 24, 2023
South Africa: Consumer Inflation Slows to 11-Month Low of 6.8%, But Reserve Bank Still Expected to Hike Rates
As winter sets in, the cost-of-living crisis is sweeping like a scythe across South African society and the harvest reaped will be bitter. Read more »
May 23, 2023
South Africa: Tendele Coal Mining Sends in the Bulldozers in Rural KZN Before Crucial High Court Interdict Ruling
Residents allege Tendele is acting unlawfully and appears to be breaching the spirit of previous undertakings to hold off on any 'mining or related activities' until a court case… Read more »
May 24, 2023
South Africa: Why Splitting Eskom Into Three Separate Entities Is a Terrible Idea
In South Africa, with very rapid growth in renewables, one thing we do not need is an unreliable transmission network. If we do not focus closely on where new power sources are… Read more »
May 22, 2023
South Africa: SA Reserve Bank Set to Hike Rates Again to Contain Rand Meltdown and Fresh Inflation Pressures
The South African Reserve Bank looks set to hike rates for a 10th consecutive time when its Monetary Policy Committee wraps up its three-day meeting this week on Thursday. The… Read more »
May 21, 2023
South Africa: Grain SA CEO - Poorly Regulated Coal Mining Is a Threat to Food Security
South Africa's coal mining sector, much of it opaque and shabbily regulated, is not just an environmental hazard. It is also a serious threat to food security as it mangles… Read more »
May 20, 2023
South Africa: SA's Light Bulb Moment - Eskom Syndicates - Same Names, Different Sectors, Same Failures
It has become overwhelmingly clear that criminal syndicates thrive because they have deep ties to influential political figures, and they do not have to fear the members of a… Read more »
South Africa: Journey Into the Hearts of Darkness - the ANC, Eskom and the Past
This week DM168 delves into the politics of the power struggle, both past and present, that have led us to Stage 7 and 8 blackouts. And as a teaser for Daily Maverick's Earth… Read more »
May 18, 2023
South Africa: Washington Sours On the ANC, Threatening Trade & Aid
South Africa's ambassador to Washington, Nomaindia Mfeketo, has been missing in action for more than two months through this crisis. She is on sick leave. And the view in… Read more »
South Africa: South African Consumers Hit the Brakes On Retail Expenditure
Stats SA's latest retail sales data show a 6.6% reduction in spending on food, beverages and tobacco. Read more »
April 05, 2023
Zimbabwe: 'Pathway to Hope' - It's Time to Give Zimbabwe Back to the People
Zanu-PF today is a ruling party steeped in patronage politics and captured by rogue capitalists and criminals of all stripes who are making millions out of a crooked system while… Read more »
May 18, 2023
South Africa: Public Enterprises Minister Lashes Former Eskom CEO for 'Messianic and Hero Figure' Tendencies
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan hit back at former Eskom boss André de Ruyter, who has claimed that senior politicians were involved in corruption at the state… Read more »
May 17, 2023
South Africa: Ever-Closer Ties With Russia Jeopardise Annual Exports to U.S. Under AGOA Deal
South Africa exports an enormous amount of goods to the US annually - including vehicles, aluminium, chemicals, fruit, wine, ferroalloys, and even ice cream and edible ice. But now… Read more »
South Africa: Beijing's Offer of Help in Power Crisis Was Why Eskom Chief Tagged Along to China - Gordhan
Eskom acting CEO Calib Cassim, and two others, went along to China to assess an offer of assistance, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan told MPs on Wednesday regarding the… Read more »
May 16, 2023
South Africa: Unemployment Rate Rises to 32.9%, With 85,000 Domestic Worker and Gardener Jobs Shed
South Africa's unemployment rate rose to 32.9% in the first quarter of 2023 from 32.7% in the last quarter of 2022. One worrying trend is that 85,000 jobs were lost in private… Read more »
South Africa: De Ruyter - Gordhan and National Security Adviser Knew About Top Politicians' Links to Eskom Rent-Seeking
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan emerges as a scared and immobilised man in André de Ruyter's tell-all memoir. Read more »
May 15, 2023
South Africa: Eskom Grid Failure - 'Sasria's Job Is to Find an Insurance Solution'
Specialist national insurer Sasria sparked a storm with its announcement that it would not cover claims related to national electricity grid failure -- followed by a backtrack… Read more »
Africa: Courts Cannot Run South Africa and Most Certainly Cannot Fix Eskom
A central feature of any legal system which adheres to the rule of law is compliance with the principle of certainty. A capricious system in which rules can be changed at the whim… Read more »
May 14, 2023
South Africa: Unplugged - Why Is South Africa So Far Behind On the Race to Electrify Vehicles?
In the midst of what seems like a never-ending energy crisis, it seems absurd to consider electrifying our transport. But the global race to electrify vehicles is picking up -- EVs… Read more »
South Africa: André De Ruyter's Truth to Power - the End of Days (Book Extract)
When André de Ruyter took over as Eskom CEO in January 2020, he quickly realised why it was considered the toughest job in South Africa. His account takes the reader inside… Read more »