Competition Commission Finds Unjustified Increases in Food Prices
According to the Competition Commission, South African consumers have been subjected to unjustified food price increases, reports SABC News. These increases were found in sunflower oil, white and brown bread, and in opportunistic price increases in maize meal over a two-year period. These findings are contained in the commission's latest Essential Food Price Monitoring (EFPM) Report. The commission's spokesperson, Sipho Ngwema says they will continue to monitor food prices.
Tshwane's New Mayor Aims to Improve Service Delivery
Democratic Alliance (DA) Cilliers Brink has been elected as the new executive mayor for the City of Tshwane. Brink beat Congress of the People (Cope) Ofentse Moalusi to the mayoral chains, reports EWN. The metro, which includes the city of Pretoria, has been without a mayor since March 10, following the resignation of Murunwa Makwarela after he faked a court rehabilitation notice. In his acceptance speech, Brink said that his main priorities would be sorting out the city's finances, improving service delivery, and lessening the municipality's reliance on power utility Eskom.
Correctional Services to End Contract with G4S Following Thabo Bester's Escape
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has indicated it will not be renewing its contract with G4S to run Mangaung Prison, following an escape by "Facebook rapist" Thabo Bester, reports IOL. G4S was a member of a consortium that agreed to manage Mangaung Prison for 25 years under a contract with the DCS. The contract between the government and the multinational private security company was expected to run until June 30, 2026.
Load Shedding to Bring Cold, Dark Winter as Eskom Power Generation Troubles Mount
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Delays in maintenance work at the Koeberg power plant have stalled for weeks with Western Cape premier Alan Winde expressing concern in light of winter's approach when electricity demand is expected to rise, Business Tech reports. In order to curb reliance on Eskom's only nuclear power station, South African Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has entered talks for the construction of a 3,000 megawatt gas-fired plant in the Western Cape.
Meanwhile, analysts have warned that South Africans will face a cold, dark winter as Eskom would be required to greatly increase its coal fleet's capacity to prevent higher levels of load shedding during the winter season.
UN Warns of 'Imminent Risk' of Global Water Crisis as Johannesburg Water Shortage Persists
Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu has acknowledged that his department failed to meet Johannesburg's need for 4,500 megalitres of water, Eyewitness News reports. This comes after the release of a report by the United Nation's (UN) Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation which revealed statistics indicating that 2.2 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water. The department cited urbanisation, ageing infrastructure, and climate change as the most notable factors impacting the nation's water supply.
As the city's water shortage persists, water expert Anthony Turton warned that a Day Zero scenario may be likely for Gauteng if necessary steps are not taken.
