Eskom reports initial success in avoiding prepaid meter catastrophe

Eskom has finally started a national update for the 6.6-million prepaid electricity meters under its control before they all become non-operational late next year. The utility said that the update,... 

Joburg tumbles in rankings of world's top financial centres

Johannesburg has suffered a sharp drop in its reputation as a top financial centre, falling from position 69 to 83 in the Global Financial Centres index. Some 121 cities are ranked according to... 

US lawmakers 'appreciated' Lady R probe, says Patel as he pushes for renewal of AGOA

A visit to Washington by a high-profile delegation of ministers, business leaders and unionists lowered tensions around the renewal of South Africa's preferential trade deal with the US, Minister... 

Government officials intervene to halt National Planning Commission briefing

A scheduled press briefing by the National Planning Commission to highlight that the country had missed all but one of the economic targets outlined in the National Development Plan was summarily... 

Bird flu crisis: Govt to fast-track vaccines amid fears of chicken, egg shortage

The SA government plans to fast-track the use of vaccines to fight bird flu as virulent strains of the disease sweep across SA's poultry sector.  Making the announcement in a statement on Monday... 

Ramaphosa directs SIU to probe R290m botched Tshwane water project

Months after a deadly cholera outbreak killed people in Hammanskraal, President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe a R290-million tender linked to... 

Eskom suspends loadshedding over the long weekend

Due to the sustained improved performance of generation availability as well as the anticipated lower demand over the long weekend, Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented at 16:00 this afternoon... 

Reserve Bank keeps rates on hold, but two members vote for a hike accreditation

The Monetary Policy Committee has kept South Africa’s key interest rate steady at 8.25% for a second consecutive meeting. This was in line with many economists' predictions, and comes after annual... 

Inflation ticks higher - despite lower food prices

Annual consumer price inflation picked up slightly to 4.8% in August from 4.7% in July - the first increase in four months. After many months of big hikes, some food prices started to fall, but... 

Even as Gauteng taps run dry, Rand Water claims it 'is able and capable' while blaming residents

Despite water not coming out of the taps in some parts of Johannesburg, Rand Water maintains it can supply the resource to consumers. For the past week, areas in Johannesburg have experienced low... 

Big diesel, petrol price hikes on the cards for October

Based on the current oil and rand prices, the latest data from the Central Energy Fund shows that diesel prices may be hiked by around R2 a litre, depending on the grade. Petrol 95 and 93 unleaded... 

'We have been doing nothing for 10 years': Idle Tshwane power stations cost the City billions

Around R300-million is spent annually on salaries for staff and maintenance at the Rooiwal and Pretoria West power stations, which have not been operational for more than a decade. On Monday,... 

R107m Steenbras Dam scheme upgrade in the works to help Cape Town ease loadshedding

A R107-million refurbishment of the Steenbras Hydro Pumped Storage Scheme is on the pipeline, with Capetonians hoping it will bring further relief from load shedding. This week, the City of Cape... 

At least 20 dead after Limpopo diamond mine bus collides with truck, burts into flames

At least 20 people died when a bus burst into flames after colliding with a truck head-on in Limpopo on Sunday afternoon.The accident occurred on the R572, and the bus is understood to have been... 

Durban business chamber calls for axing of Transnet CEO and execs

The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called on the Public Enterprises Minister to remove Transnet’s CEO Portia Derby, accusing her of sabotaging businesses through lack of service... 

Further reprieve from Stage 6 over the weekend, Eskom says

Loadshedding will be reduced to Stages 2 and 4 over the weekend, Eskom said in a statement on Friday afternoon. Stage 4 loadshedding was implemented at 14:00 and will continue until 05:00 on... 

SA imported an entire Eskom power station's worth of solar panels - in just 6 months

South Africa quadrupled its solar panel imports from China in the first half of 2023 to 3.4GW – which, at peak production, amounts to nearly the generation capacity of Eskom's Duvha or Matla power... 

Cabinet approves new SOE plan - which may mean JSE listings, private investments

A radical new model for South Africa’s troubled State-owned enterprises could be on the cards, with the approval this week of the draft National State Enterprises Bill, which would lay the basis... 

High loadshedding stages 'temporary', as government assures it has measures to tackle blackouts

Cabinet has been given the assurance that the current higher stages of loadshedding are temporary. This is according to Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who said Cabinet had... 

Ramaphosa to push ahead with cutting government's size to stabilise economy

South Africa's R4.7-trillion "unsustainable public debt levels", including low growth rates, forced President Cyril Ramaphosa to consider cutting the government's size to stabilise the economy, the... 

'The world is not waiting for us' on digital technology - Minister Gungubele

South Africa will become an irrelevant trading partner if the country does not keep up with the pace of global technological development says Communications and Digital Technology Minister Mondli... 

Stage 6 overnight, with higher stages of loadshedding all week

Stage 5 loadshedding will continue until 16:00 on Tuesday - followed by Stage 6 overnight until 05:00 Wednesday, Eskom said in a statement.  This comes as four generating units have gone offline.  

Ramaphosa to meet labour as budget crisis takes centre stage

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called an urgent but long overdue meeting with organised labour for Tuesday, as the possibility of a further wage freeze, job cuts, and more cuts to government... 

Non-stop Stage 4 until further notice after breakdowns

Due to breakdowns at Arnot, Duvha and Grootvlei power stations, as well as the delay in returning generating units to service, Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented from 12:00 on Monday until... 

Loadshedding to ease further on Saturday

Rugby fans can expect slightly fewer interruptions to their TV time this weekend, with scheduled power cuts expected to ease a little from early on Saturday morning.  This follows the... 

Medium-term budget policy statement now expected a week later

The medium-term budget policy statement will be tabled on 1 November, a week later than requested by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, the National Assembly Programme Committee decided on... 

New challenge brewing for Karpowership's Saldanha Bay plant

Two eco-justice groups plan to challenge Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Barbara Creecy's decision to allow Karpowership SA to submit a key document for the environmental approval of... 

Bombardier to pay Transnet R468m to settle dispute over State capture locomotive deal

Bombardier Transportation SA has agreed to pay Transnet a total of R468-million to settle a long-running legal dispute over a locomotive supply contract.  Transnet, in turn, will release withheld... 

State wants private companies to upgrade SA's border posts

Government is looking to the private sector to assist in upgrading South Africa's land ports with neighbouring countries.  The upgrades will assist in improving regional trade between the Southern... 

Huge diesel, petrol price hikes confirmed for Wednesday

On Wednesday, the petrol price (both 93 and 95 unleaded) will be hiked by R1.71 a litre. The wholesale price of diesel will be increased by a painful R2.84 a litre. According to the Automobile... 

City of Tshwane, Rand Water to meet this week to find a solution for taps running dry

After effectively blaming each other for large parts of Pretoria being without water, the City of Tshwane and bulk water supplier Rand Water will be meeting this week to find a solution. On... 

Gordhan vs Tlhakudi: Ill-health prevents minister from responding to claims of SAA R51 valuation

The spat between Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and his former director-general, Kgathatso Tlhakudi, is far from over. On Thursday, Gordhan was meant to respond to the allegations... 

Expect extreme heat, risk of floods this summer as El Niño hits SA, says weather service

South Africans can expect a hotter summer than usual, with the South African Weather Service forecasting "above-normal" minimum and maximum temperatures in the months ahead.  This could put... 

Loadshedding bumped to Stage 4 overnight as more generating units fail

Stage 2 loadshedding will continue until 16:00 on Tuesday. Thereafter, Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented until 05:00 on Wednesday, Eskom said in a statement. This pattern will be implemented... 

Western Cape legislature left fuming after Ramokgopa's 11th-hour cancellation

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has once again snubbed the Western Cape legislature's ad-hoc committee on the energy crisis.  Ramokgopa was expected to brief the committee on the impact... 

Eskom's troubled Tutuka station to start bringing units back online within weeks, says Ramokgopa

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is confident that two units at "perennial underperformer" Tutuka power station will come back onstream in September, he said during a media briefing on... 

'Dominant player' China made sense as renewables partner, says Ramokgopa

China is an ideal partner to help South Africa as it builds its renewable energy capacity, Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has said, given that it is a "dominant player in the renewables... 

Koeberg revamp: Race against time as nuclear regulator wants more work on safety case

The National Nuclear Regulator has asked Eskom to undertake additional engineering studies on the Koeberg power station before it can deliberate on its application to extend the long-term operation... 

Electricity purchased from IPPs will be cheaper than Eskom – City Power

City Power claims it will have a slightly lower tariff for Johannesburg residents after procuring electricity from four independent power producers. The entity said two of the four IPPs still had... 

Transnet rail ops hit by protest action as new and improved security solution is adopted

Three of Transnet's rail lines have been impacted by what is believed to be sabotage, amid protests by disgruntled security personnel over a new outcomes-based security contract. In the face of...