May 13, 2023
South Africa: U.S. Rang Alarm Bells About Alleged Russian Arms Trade in February - Minister
The impact on the South African economy of any secondary sanctions which the US might impose on this country because of its stance on Russia's war against Ukraine - including the… Read more »
May 12, 2023
South Africa: The SA Reserve Bank Has Committed a Serious Linguistic Crime On New Banknotes
SA Reserve Bank, please remove the ludicrous, absurd, fictional and offensive toy word 'bangikulu' from our banknotes now. Read more »
South Africa: 'Add Those Megawatts' - Ramaphosa Backs Karpowership and Slowing Down Coal Power Plant Decommissioning
President Cyril Ramaphosa has signalled his support for the controversial Karpowership emergency power deal, saying that was 'the way to go right now to add those megawatts'. He… Read more »
May 11, 2023
South Africa: Eskom's Age of Chaos and Uncertainty Shows No Sign of End in Sight
While the government and the ANC have promised to fix South Africa's electricity crisis, there is much evidence that President Cyril Ramaphosa is not in control of the situation. Read more »
May 10, 2023
South Africa: Who Knew What About Private Corruption Probe - Eskom Board, Executives and Scopa Clash
That no love was lost between Eskom board chairperson Mpho Makwana and his ex-CEO André de Ruyter was clear right from the start. But MPs questioned the hard line in the… Read more »
May 08, 2023
South Africa: Fourth Accused in R15 Million Eskom Fraud Case Out On Bail of R100,000
Portuguese national Maria Cantelo appeared in court recently, becoming the fourth accused in the case of defrauding Eskom of nearly R15m. A fifth suspect is still at large. Read more »
South Africa: 'It's Creating Havoc' - Western Cape Library Headache Persists Five Months After System Crash
The computerised database used by Western Cape libraries crashed in November 2022, but the operating system has yet to be fully restored, causing administrative problems for many… Read more »
May 03, 2023
South Africa: Former Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer to Stay On At the Utility
Former Eskom chief operating officer Jan Oberholzer will remain at the utility in a new role to oversee projects aimed at pulling South Africa out of a power crisis which is set to… Read more »
April 23, 2023
South Africa: Embarrassing Puzzle - Why SA Should Be Breaking Up With BRICS
Given the relative sizes of the BRICS economies, it seems clear that South Africa is destined to merely toe the line without any meaningful influence in key decisions - hence the… Read more »
South Africa: The Emerging Food Barons - What's Up With the Soaring Prices in SA and the UK?
Food inflation remains on a worrying upward trajectory, with SA and UK food inflation running at about double the rate of their headline inflation rates. That's completely at odds… Read more »
April 18, 2023
South Africa: Former CEO to Appear Before Parliament Next Week to Testify On His Claims of Corruption At Eskom
Former Eskom chief executive André De Ruyter will appear before Parliament next week - but while the committee will meet in person, De Ruyter will participate virtually. Read more »
April 13, 2023
South Africa: Ramaphosa Moves to Calm Investor Fears Over the Wave of Rolling Blackouts
During his speech to more than 1,000 delegates at the South Africa Investment Conference, the President acknowledged that investor confidence in the country 'has been tested' by… Read more »
April 12, 2023
South Africa: Grandparents Spend Their Pensions to Feed Entire Families as Food Crisis Hits Hard in Eastern Cape
As Eastern Cape communities are hit by spiralling food inflation and unemployment rates of 42.4%, the province's elderly residents are using their state pensions to look after… Read more »
April 06, 2023
South Africa: The Ending of the Disastrous State of Disaster Shows It Was All Just a PR Exercise
On Wednesday, the government announced that it was ending the National State of Disaster for the electricity crisis, claiming that the period during which it was in effect had… Read more »
April 04, 2023
South Africa: Trade Union Numsa Threatens Nationwide Bus Strike Ahead of Busy Easter Weekend
Trade union Numsa has for the second year in a row warned of a national bus strike over stalled wage negotiations on the eve of the Easter weekend. Read more »
April 03, 2023
South Africa: Durban Agrees to Provide 'Action Plan' On Sewage Pollution - - One Year After the Floods
Nigh on a year after devastating floods hit the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, Durban municipal leaders have agreed finally to publish a detailed 'action plan' to repair and upgrade the… Read more »
South Africa: Power Utility Exempted from Reporting Irregular, Wasteful and Fruitless Expenditure
Eskom's exemption from reporting irregular, wasteful and fruitless expenditure and criminal conduct losses set off alarms, amid persistent scepticism over government pledges on… Read more »
April 02, 2023
Zambia: Zambia Reaps Rewards of Positive Neutrality and Economic Diplomacy While Others Flounder
Maintaining a balance of international partnerships is critical for Zambia's economic development. Foreign powers play a central role in supporting domestic infrastructure, mining… Read more »
South Africa: South Africans Are Borrowing Money to Fund Groceries - Study
The FinScope Consumer Survey shows that surging energy costs have affected almost 18 million adults, who say they have been forced to live without electricity because they simply… Read more »
March 27, 2023
South Africa: Hundreds Left Homeless After Fire Sweeps Through Hout Bay's Imizamo Yethu
A fire destroyed dozens of shacks in Imizamo Yethu informal settlement in Hout Bay on Sunday evening. Some residents lost their homes for the second time in less than a year. Gift… Read more »
South Africa: Govt, Public Sector Trade Unions On the Verge of Sealing 7.5% Pay Rise Deal
Trade unions representing the majority of public servants in SA are prepared to accept the government's offer to increase pay by 7.5% during the 2023/24 fiscal year, followed in… Read more »
March 26, 2023
South Africa: Premier Group Returns to the JSE After an 18-Year Hiatus
The Premier Group returned to the bourse on Friday, 24 March, giving investors access to trading in South Africa's oldest food and packaged goods business. Read more »
South Africa: Reserve Bank Expected to Hike Interest Rates Again
It would be the ninth consecutive hike since November 2021, adding a cumulative 400 basis points since then and taking the repo rate to 7.50% and the prime lending rate to 11.0%. Read more »
March 14, 2023
South Africa: 'Misleading' Claims and Transnet Fear Over Harbour Space Derail Karpowership Plans for Now
Karpowership's plan to park three large ships in Coega harbour has been derailed - for now. Not for environmental reasons, but because Transnet wants to build a new liquid bulk… Read more »
South Africa: Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, You Have the Power to Take Us Back Into the Light - Here's How to Do It
Make no mistake, turning around electricity production is the most ambitious and far-reaching activity any South African leader has undertaken for a long time. Read more »