All cities in South Africa will face an electricity tariff increase of at least 16% in July if Eskom is granted a R22.8bn adjustment for the 2013/2014 financial year, according to Leslie Rencontre, director of electricity at the City of Cape Town. Eskom made a regulatory clearing account (RCA) application for this amount to the National Energy Regulator (Nersa) on Monday. In reaction to Eskom's application, Rencontre told the Nersa panel it would mean an additional 8.6% increase over and … [Read more...] about Potential 16% tariff hike for electricity consumers
The tipping point to grid defection in sight
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) will start its public hearings on Monday as part of Eskom's application to recover an additional R22.8bn through an electricity tariff increase. The Nersa public hearings will start in Cape Town and end in Midrand on 5 February. Nersa approves electricity tariff increases for Eskom based on a number of assumptions on factors such as electricity demand and cost of primary energy. Depending on how those assumptions pan out, Eskom is … [Read more...] about The tipping point to grid defection in sight
A declaration of war against the workers
More unions have joined the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in expressing their displeasure with - and possible strike action against - new tax law amendments signed into law by President Jacob Zuma. This means all retirement reforms related to tax harmonisation on retirement contributions and benefits will come into effect on March 1 2016. Cosatu regards the legislation as an offence against all working people, who have their deferred wages to look forward to after … [Read more...] about A declaration of war against the workers
Weak Rand equals Higher Petrol Price
If the rand/dollar exchange rate had remained flat in 2015, South Africans would currently have been paying on average 45 cents a litre less at the pumps, the Automobile Association (AA) said on Friday. This estimate is based on unaudited mid-month data released by the Central Energy Fund (CEF). "South Africa's sagging rand/US dollar exchange rate continues to take the shine off ongoing international oil price weakness," the AA explained. "This deficit has widened by another 32 cents … [Read more...] about Weak Rand equals Higher Petrol Price
Only 14% of youth 18 to 19 registered to vote
Millions of voters, thousands of voting stations, hundreds of political parties. The logistics of the upcoming local government elections are massive. Below is a breakdown of the numbers, as released by the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC). There are currently 24.95 million registered voters According to the IEC, this is down from the 2014 general elections when there were 25.39 million registered voters. The reason given was that names of people who had died since then had been removed … [Read more...] about Only 14% of youth 18 to 19 registered to vote
Opposition parties unhappy
Opposition parties want the date of this year's local government elections, as not knowing is holding back their preparations. The Economic Freedom Fighters, who will be contesting municipal elections for the first time, wanted the date be announced as soon as possible. "The person who announces the date of elections is the president of the ANC it means the ANC is aware of the date of elections," EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu said. The party wanted to know by when the list of … [Read more...] about Opposition parties unhappy
Ntini says that Zimbabwe have the talent
Coaching at international level has been a "lifelong dream" of Makhaya Ntini's, and he is eager to get going in his new role as Zimbabwe's assistant to Dav Whatmore. Ntini starts his role on February 16, and he says that while there is a lot of talent in the country they need to be in a far better position than they are currently. Zimbabwe recently lost both the T20 and ODI series home and in the UAE against minnows Afghanistan, and Ntini says that is simply not acceptable. "I think … [Read more...] about Ntini says that Zimbabwe have the talent
Match Fixers must be exposed
Former Proteas captain Shaun Pollock wants to see all of those involved in match-fixing exposed. On Wednesday, after Netwerk24 broke the story, Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed that former Proteas, Dolphins, Titans and Lions cricketer Gulam Bodi had been charged with "contriving to fix, or otherwise improperly influence aspects of the 2015 RAM SLAM T20 Challenge Series". Pollock labeled the extent of the latest match-fixing saga to rock cricket as "shocking" and said that it was a sad … [Read more...] about Match Fixers must be exposed
Maureen Jansen to lay charges against SA Jewish Board of Deputies
A Port Elizabeth attorney is pressing charges against the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) after it accused her of making racist and anti-Semitic statements on social media. Maureen Jansen on Thursday would not give any further details, saying the matter was sub judice. She denied the allegation that she called for the extermination of all Jews. "Jews per se are peace-loving people. An example is that the Jews who remained in Palestine after the sacking of Jerusalem... and did … [Read more...] about Maureen Jansen to lay charges against SA Jewish Board of Deputies
‘Touch-ups’ needed before announcing municipal poll date
Some "touch-ups" needed to be done before a date for the local government elections could be announced, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister David van Rooyen said on Thursday. The finalisation of voting districts and the Constitutional Court's ruling on the Tlokwe by-elections were some of the reasons why a date had not been announced yet, he told reporters on the sidelines of the Electoral Commission of SA's official municipal election launch in Midrand, … [Read more...] about ‘Touch-ups’ needed before announcing municipal poll date
Workers panic over new pension laws
Controversial new pension laws only apply to money saved from 1 April this year, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Thursday. "Anything you saved up to March this year is not touched. The old rules still apply," Gordhan said at a post-Cabinet briefing broadcast from Pretoria. Panic and anger set in among workers when President Jacob Zuma signed the new tax laws such as the 2015 Tax Laws Amendment Act and the Tax Administration Laws Amendment Act into force. They include a limit on … [Read more...] about Workers panic over new pension laws
IEC ready for first voter registration weekend
The first voter registration weekend for this year's municipal elections will take place in March, the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) said on Thursday. A total of 24.95 million people were registered to vote, chief electoral officer Mosotho Moepya said at the IEC's official 2016 municipal elections launch in Midrand. This was slightly lower than the number of registered voters during the 2014 general elections, which was 25.3 million. Moepya said the reason was that the names of … [Read more...] about IEC ready for first voter registration weekend
Makhaya Ntini gets Zimbabwe coaching role
Former South African bowler Makhaya Ntini has been appointed on a two-year contract as Zimbabwe assistant national team coach, with effect from February 16. Ntini, aged 38, had an illustrious playing career for South Africa, rising from being a product of the then United Cricket Board's development programme to becoming the country's first black African international cricketer. In 2003, he became the first South African to take 10 wickets in a Test match at the hallowed Lord's ground in … [Read more...] about Makhaya Ntini gets Zimbabwe coaching role
SARB pits monetary policy stance under the microscope
Amid the rand's tumultuous start to the year, the SA Reserve Bank (Sarb) said that it will assess the appropriateness of the current monetary policy stance. "The opening weeks of 2016 suggest that the conduct of monetary policy in South Africa will be further complicated," said deputy governor Daniel Mminele, addressing European Economics and Financial Centre in London on Tuesday. "The currency remains a key source of risk for inflation in South Africa, despite some recent evidence of … [Read more...] about SARB pits monetary policy stance under the microscope
COSATU ‘deeply incensed and disappointed’ with Zuma
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said it is "deeply incensed and disappointed" to hear that President Jacob Zuma has now officially signed all the tax legislation from 2015 into law. This includes the implementation of the 2015 Tax Laws Amendment Act and the Tax Administration Laws Amendment Act. This means all retirement reforms related to tax harmonisation on retirement contributions and benefits will come into effect on March 1 2016. In Cosatu's view this will have … [Read more...] about COSATU ‘deeply incensed and disappointed’ with Zuma
