November 21, 2023
South Africa: Throw Eskom Chapter of Zondo Report in the Bin, Says Koko As NPA Faces Major Hurdles in Kusile Case Aftermath
The NPA's Investigating Directorate says it will re-enrol the Kusile Power Station corruption case against Matshela Koko and others when its investigation is complete, but it has… Read more »
South Africa: Auditor-General's Report Reveals SAA Is Far From Going Like a Boeing
Despite billions of rands of taxpayer money being thrown into the SAA black hole, the airline remains a mess. The Auditor-General has painted a dire picture of financial results… Read more »
South Africa: Eskom Corruption Case Struck Off Roll for 'Unreasonable Delay' By Prosecuting Authority
The Middelburg court has clipped the NPA's wings in the Kusile corruption case which includes Eskom's former interim Chief Executive, Matshela Koko and former Salga Chief Executive… Read more »
November 20, 2023
South Africa: Reserve Bank Expected to Hold Rates Steady As Rand Provides Some Respite
The South African Reserve Bank is seen keeping its key repo rate steady at 8.25% when its Monetary Policy Committee concludes its last scheduled meeting of 2023 on Thursday. The… Read more »
Africa: Talks On New Global Plastic Treaty 'Held Hostage' By Petrochemical Industry
Negotiations on a global plastic treaty stalled in Kenya at the weekend, with some non-government groups describing the talks as a 'massive failure'. Read more »
South Africa: Transnet's Financial Crunch Intensifies After Losing Millions in Revenue Due to Durban Port Inefficiencies
Delays and congestion at the biggest port on South Africa's east coast worsened from October this year, with Transnet blaming adverse weather conditions that contributed to its… Read more »
November 19, 2023
South Africa: Koeberg's Unit 1 Roars Back to Life, but Minister Bemoans Outages At Medupi and Five Other Units
The utility describes the successful synchronisation of Unit 1 at Koeberg to the grid as 'a huge milestone in the generation and operational recovery plan'. At the same time,… Read more »
November 16, 2023
South Africa: 'It Breaks My Heart,' Lesufi Tells Soweto Residents After Listening to Frustrated Community's Electricity Woes
More than 200 Soweto residents gathered at Kopanong Community Hall on Tuesday afternoon to hear what Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi had planned to solve the electricity crisis. Read more »
November 15, 2023
South Africa: NUM Terminates Closed-Shop Agreement At East Rand's Gold One As Violence Continues
The National Union of Mineworkers has terminated its closed-shop agreement - which excludes minority unions from bargaining - at Gold One in the face of fresh violence following… Read more »
November 14, 2023
South Africa: Illegal Electricity Connections Cost Cape Town R83 Million in 10 Months
While the nation grapples with the effects of rolling blackouts, Cape Town has intensified efforts to remove unlawful electricity connections that cost the city millions. Read more »
South Africa: Cash-Strapped Tshwane Targets Service Delivery Backlog After Municipal Strike Ends
Mayor Cilliers Brink says the City of Tshwane aims to clear the service delivery backlog after finding some common ground with unions who fought a protracted battle for wage… Read more »
November 09, 2023
South Africa: Dismal September Mining and Manufacturing Data Bode Ill for Third-Quarter GDP
Diamonds led the fall in mining production, with a plunge in output of 61.4% year on year in September. This comes against the backdrop of a global slump in prices and demand. Read more »
November 08, 2023
Africa: Prosper Africa Coordinates 17 US Agencies to Help Boost Africa's Low Participation in AGOA
The root of the problem is that Africa is simply not producing enough goods that the US wants to buy. Read more »
South Africa: Golden Arrow Set to Become Country's First Public Bus Service With an Electric Vehicle Fleet
The bus service has been testing electric vehicle buses since 2021. By 2025, it hopes to have at least 60 of these buses on Cape Town's roads. Its chief engineer says electric… Read more »
South Africa: Transnet Seeks Further Reprieve From R10 Billion Debt Repayment As Deadline Looms
Transnet has another portion of debt - worth almost R10bn - that has to be repaid by the end of December. Transnet told Daily Maverick it would deal with the debt in the same way… Read more »
November 07, 2023
South Africa: MTN Spends R6.6 Billion to Boost Network Resilience in the Face of Intensified Blackouts
MTN aims to spend R10bn in 2023 and the early months of 2024, with the telecommunications company sacrificing higher profits to make its network reliable during Eskom blackouts.… Read more »
South Africa: U.S. Senator Chris Coons Proposes Immediate Review of South Africa's AGOA Eligibility
His proposed Bill would extend Agoa for 16 years -- but possibly eject SA from the preferential trade programme. Read more »
November 06, 2023
South Africa: 'Transnet and Eskom's Failures Have Cost South Africa R200bn', Says Revenue Service Boss
Tax boss Edward Kieswetter has explained the reasons for the expected tax revenue shortfall. Read more »
South Africa: Sibanye in Five-Year Wage Deal With AMCU and NUM
Diversified metals producer Sibanye-Stillwater said on Monday it had reached a five-year wage agreement with Amcu and NUM at its Kroondal platinum mine in North West. This is a big… Read more »
November 05, 2023
South Africa: South Africa Pins Its Hopes On an Early 2024 U.S. Congress Renewal of AGOA
The US trade delegation has used the Agoa Forum, hosted last week in Johannesburg, to reiterate that its economic relationship with South Africa remains 'strong' despite the Lady R… Read more »
November 01, 2023
South Africa: Treasury Has Been Bent to Ramaphosa's Populist Agenda - The Consequences Will Be Dire
The hard numbers won't go away. Instead of shrinking, they will grow and unless there is a dramatic change in direction, they will overwhelm the fiscus. The private sector has been… Read more »
South Africa: Muted Responses to Reality-Check MTBPS As Debt Debacle Impacts Economic Growth
Debt and rising debt repayment costs, now the biggest government expenditure, was the thread in Wednesday's Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement. It means everything from no… Read more »
South Africa: Rand and Bonds Post Mild Gains After Mini-Budget Allays Worst Fears
The initial market reaction to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's mini budget was cautiously positive as it allayed -- for now -- some of the graver concerns among investors. Read more »
South Africa: Treasury Has Again Neglected Country's Most Economically Vulnerable - Civil Society Organisations
Civil society organisations with a focus on education, health and social grants were less than enamoured with the 2023 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement that Finance Minister… Read more »
South Africa: South Africa Likely to Secure Trade Status Extension With U.S., Say Officials - But for How Much Longer?
Maintaining South Africa's status under the African Growth and Opportunity Act will save 30,000 jobs in the Western Cape alone and increase trade from an annual R50bn-plus. But… Read more »