insert_link South Africa SA Electoral Reform Panel Receives 350 Submissions The South Africa Electoral Reform Consultation Panel says it has received around 350 written submissions on electoral reform including from all 18 political parties in Parliament. The panel is tasked with independently investigating, and making recommendations on potential reforms of the electoral system, for the election of the National Assembly and the provincial legislatures. The panel’s, Michael Hendrickse, says the electoral reform is not a silver bullet for resolving […] today5 December, 2024
insert_link South Africa Eskom CEO Highlights Data-Driven Approach and Governance In S.A, Eskom CEO Dan Marokane says a data-driven approach and enhanced governance practices underpin the power utility’s financial and operational improvements. He briefed Parliament’s portfolio committee on Electricity and Energy yesterday. He adds that extending the life of coal power stations is one of the reasons for improvement in generation and load-shedding: Marokane also says the biggest risk factor is the non-payment of electricity bills by state institutions like […] today5 December, 2024
insert_link South Africa AfriForum Challenges Eskom’s Tariff Hike Proposal In S.A, AfriForum has opposed Eskom's proposed 36.15-percent power tariff hike at Gauteng's public consultation today. AfriForum's Morné Mostert emphasised that consumers, particularly low-income households, cannot bear the burden of Eskom's mismanagement. Mostert confirms that AfriForum has submitted a petition to further challenge the increase: today5 December, 2024
insert_link South Africa Calls Grow In S.A for Minister Simelane’s Suspension Defend Our Democracy South Africa calls for former Justice minister Thembi Simelane to be removed from her new role as minister of Human Settlements over fresh corruption allegations. The group’s executive director, Zaakirah Vadi, urges president Cyril Ramaphosa to suspend her pending the outcome of the investigation: today5 December, 2024
insert_link South Africa In S.A, 150 Illegal Miners Trapped in Abandoned Sabie Mine To South Africa, where around 150 illegal miners are trapped inside an abandoned mine in Sabie, Mpumalanga, with three reported dead and six already rescued. The situation was discovered when four suspected miners fleeing the scene alerted security personnel. Police spokesperson Donald Mdhluli says the miners, reportedly forced to work under dangerous conditions, have raised concerns that those running the operation may be armed: today5 December, 2024
insert_link South Africa SA’s new land law limits rural landowners The Institute of Race Relations has raised concerns over the deprivation of rural landowners’ property rights under the newly amended Communal Property Association Act. Gabriel Crouse of the IRR says 470-thousand rural landowners are now required to obtain state approval to lease or sell their land, which undermines economic freedom. today4 December, 2024
insert_link Business / Economics Moody’s affirms South Africa’s Ba2 rating with a stable outlook Moody's has affirmed South Africa's long-term debt ratings at "Ba2" with a stable outlook. The agency cited the country's strong institutions, like the judiciary and central bank, as credit strengths. However, persistent inequalities continue to hinder reforms and pose social risks, according to Moody's. today4 December, 2024
insert_link South Africa Cosatu Expresses Concern Over South Africa’s 0.3% GDP Contraction S.A Union Cosatu says it is disheartening that the country’s gross domestic product has contracted by 0.3-percent in the third quarter compared to the second quarter. Statistics South Africa said the leading contributors to the decline were agriculture, transport, and communications. Cosatu’s, Zanele Sabela, says for a brief period, it appeared as if things were improving when expanded unemployment fell by 0.7-percent, and inflation dropped to 2.8-percent: today4 December, 2024
insert_link South Africa DA Criticizes Ramaphosa’s Redeployment of Justice Minister Simelane as “Short-Sighted”…. To South Africa, where the DA says president Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to remove Thembi Simelane as minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and redeploy her as minister of Human Settlements, is short-sighted and disrespectful to South Africans. There has been mounting pressure for the president to remove her after it emerged she received a loan from a company that benefited from VBS Mutual Bank, while she was Polokwane […] today4 December, 2024