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Monday, November 16, 2009.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Shannon de Ryhove.

Making headlines today:

South Africa's African National Congress-led tripartite alliance met over the weekend and came out in opposition to Eskom's proposed electricity tariff increases of 45% a year for the next three years.

This is a material departure from the stance taken, until now, by the ANC-governed administration, which had stressed the need to move towards cost reflectivity as quickly as possible. This position had been rejected by both business and labour, which warned of major economic and social consequences should tariffs be allowed to surge by 200% over three years.

News of the alliance's discomfort with the Eskom proposal came only two days after Engineering News Online confirmed that the utility was, in fact, working on a revised application. The revised application will be submitted to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa by November 30.

It is understood that Eskom will seek to lop off at least a nominal 10% from the initial figures submitted on September 30, 2009, and is considering various mechanisms for achieving that goal.

Former Eskom chairperson Bobby Godsell may issue a statement today regarding his future plans.

His personal assistant, Liz van Niekerk, said he wasn't taking calls, but that he might speak out on what he intends to do following his surprise resignation last week while in the throes of a controversy over former chief executive officer Jacob Maroga.

In a statement, he said he submitted his resignation as the government had not been supportive of the board's move to oust Maroga. His move followed a disagreement between him and Maroga over how the parastatal should be run.

Maroga's resignation was confirmed by Eskom's board last Thursday.

Also making headlines:

Parliament's portfolio committee on Public Enterprises will visit a number of State-owned enterprises this week.
The South African Navy is seeking to reduce costs through the greater use of simulation.
Fixed line service provider Telkom expects a drop in half-year earnings of up to 55%.
And, Botswana sees positive signs that an end to its recession is within reach.

That's a round up of news making headlines today. For more on these and other stories please visit engineeringnews.co.za.