Author: Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the new Local Government: Municipal Systems Amendment Bill that he has signed into law, will strengthen capacity and improve ethical standards in local municipalities. The new law aims to improve the lives of South Africans at the local level by, amongst others, ensuring accountability and barring senior officials in local government from holding political office. “The amendments passed by Parliament show that the concerns of communities have been heard and been acted upon. “A capable, ethical state requires a strong foundation at local level, and the new law will go a long way to building communities’…

Deputy President David Mabuza says government is taking every step to make sure that Eskom is supported in its bid to stabilise the national grid and ensure energy security. The Deputy President was answering questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Thursday afternoon. The Deputy President is the Chairperson of the Political Task Team on Eskom which was established to bring government’s key players together in order to provide political leadership in the resolution of the problems besetting the power producer. The Deputy President said the task team has achieved several milestones since it was established including: Enabling…

Plans are afoot to build two new universities, says Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande. This follows Cabinet’s approval for the establishment of the new University of Science and Innovation in Ekurhuleni and a new Crime Detection University in Hammanskraal in Gauteng. Nzimande said the process of developing new universities is preceded by a feasibility study to ascertain the demand for new institutions in identified areas or areas of interest. “A feasibility study, funded through the Infrastructure and Efficiency Grant (IEG) to the value of R6 million, is underway to advice on the size and shape of…

South Africa could avoid possible greylisting if it implemented recommendations in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) mutual evaluation report. The FATF commenced its assessment in 2019 and published its final report on 7 October last year. The mutual evaluation report had an adverse rating under technical compliance and effectiveness. It made several recommendations. Addressing Parliament’s Standing Parliament on Finance, South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor, Lesetja Kganyago, said the report recommends that all regulatory authorities should subject beneficial owners to fit and proper assessments. Beyond this, all regulatory authorities should verify that directors, senior management and beneficial owners or…

State power utility Eskom says despite suspending load shedding, the power generation system remains vulnerable to breaking down. The electricity supplier said it suspended load shedding as a result of increased generation capacity, lower demand and the recovery of emergency generation reserves. “While we are able to suspend load shedding at this point, it is important to note that the generation system is still vulnerable to breakdowns and load shedding may be required. We therefore urge all South Africans to continue using electricity sparingly, especially during these uncertain times on the power system. “Eskom will promptly communicate should a need…

The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (NPA AFU) has been granted and served an order to restrain at least R13 million on former South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence Head, Richard Mdluli, Head of Supply Chain Management, Heine Barnard, former SAPS Crime Intelligence CFO, Solomon Lazarus, and others. The other accused are Mdluli’s former wife, Theresa Lyons, and his current wife, Vusiwane Mdluli, John and Heena Appalsami of Daez Trading CC, Barnard’s wife Juanita Barnard and Lazarus’s wife, Sandra Lazarus. According to the NPA, the restraint is linked to the fraud, theft and corruption case the accused are…

Eskom has announced that it will implement load shedding from this afternoon after the power utility faced some challenges at several power stations. “Due to a shortage of generation capacity, stage two load shedding will be implemented during the evening peak period of 4pm to midnight this afternoon and at the same time tomorrow. Eskom will promptly communicate any further significant changes. “The delay in returning a generation unit to service each at Arnot, Koeberg and Kusile power stations, as well as the unplanned outage of a generation unit each at Camden, Medupi and two units each at Grootvlei, Hendrina…

Eskom has warned that it may implement Stage 2 load shedding over the next three days from 4pm to midnight. The power utility explained that several power stations are battling challenges which may prompt the implementation of load shedding. “The delay in returning a generation unit to service each at Arnot, Kusile and Koeberg power stations as well as the failure of a generation unit each at Medupi, Hendrina, Camden and two units at Majuba power stations have exacerbated the capacity constraints. “Should there be any further loss of generation capacity over the next three days, or should some units…

Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, says government is focused on improving the performance of Eskom’s power stations and “adding as much new generation capacity to the grid as possible, as quickly as possible” in order to ensure energy security. He was speaking during a media briefing by several ministers whose departments fall under the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM). The NECOM – which comprises of Eskom and relevant government departments – was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during an address to the nation last Monday on interventions to address the electricity crunch the country has been experiencing. NECOM will…

Eskom has met with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and top leadership from at least 70 businesses on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA)-led session. The session is part of the state power utility’s efforts to find solutions to its ailing power generation issues. During the session Eskom CEO André de Ruyter mapped out the strategies currently in place to ensure that there is enough power supply on the grid. “The purpose of the discussions was to identify initiatives where the parties can collaborate and plant the seeds of opportunity to leverage private sector investment capacity…