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Legislative Environment News

South Africa graft ombudsman holds hearings in renewables probe

By: Bloomberg 23rd November 2021 South Africa’s graft ombudsman will hold a week of hearings as part of an investigation into the awarding of contracts to independent renewable power producers. The probe was established in 2019 after a complaint by a nongovernmental organisation that alleged “improper conduct and... →

Election day alcohol ban worries beer industry

12th November 2021 Last month, after Police Minister Bheki Cele announced that the government would like to ban alcohol sales on November 1 – the date of the municipal elections – the Beer Association of South Africa (Basa) voiced concern over the risk that government would once again enforce arbitrary alcohol... →

Photo by Creamer Media
BHEKI CELE The Police Minister has been a strong proponent of alcohol bans whenever possible

Home brewing rises as industry uncertainty continues

By: Darren Parker 12th November 2021 Home brewing has grown significantly since the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdowns in March 2020, and the Beer Association of South Africa (Basa) welcomes an increasing interest in beer and beer culture. “Sadly, there have been incidences where blanket bans on alcohol have incentivised citizens... →

A photo of a home beer brewing kit in use

Photo by Adobe
HOME BREWING There have been several local reports of deaths as a result of citizens drinking poisonous home brews during the bans on the sale of alcohol

Sector pushes for transformation amid contraction

By: Nadine Ramdass 12th November 2021 While government is planning transformational megaprojects to benefit the construction sector, data from sources, such as Statistics South Africa, show that “the sector has been in a permanent state of contracting for some time”, says construction company Motheo Construction Group nonexecutive... →

An image of Motheo Construction's non-executive director Gregory Mofokeng

GREGORY MOFOKENG Industry needs to reflect demographics of South Africa

National Infrastructure Plan offers blueprint, but capacity concerns weigh

By: Nadine Ramdass 12th November 2021 A common thread throughout the second Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA), held on October 6 and 7, is that the fiscus, as well as the State’s professional capacity, is constrained. While the SIDSSA updated the public on the progress of projects under the... →

Whistle-blowing app launched to help in the fight against corruption

By: Donna Slater 10th November 2021 Professional advisory firm BDO on November 10 launched its BDO Tipoffs mobile application (app), enabling anyone willing to blow the whistle on misconduct to report offences anonymously. According to the company, the BDO Tipoffs app has been purposefully designed to be simple to use. It is... →

BDO launches mobile whistleblowing application to counter wrongdoing and abuse in workplaces

Amendments demand stringent compliance

By: Claire O'Reilly 5th November 2021 With the new amendments to the Carbon Tax Act earmarked to pave the way for developing a national standard to approve offset carbon positive projects and administer these projects on a national database, Economic Development Solutions (EDS) head of business development Eckart Zollner says... →

Picture of interviewee Eckart Zollner who is the Economic Development Solutions (EDS) head of business development

ECKART ZOLLNER Economic Development Solutions head of business development

Business in Africa has to deal with greater compliance demands

By: Darren Parker 29th October 2021 African governments are demanding greater levels of compliance from businesses, which has resulted in a noticeable increase in red tape and bureaucracy owing to poor execution by officials, says consulting engineering and scientist firm SRK Consulting South Africa MD Vis Reddy. Among its... →

A photo of SRK Consulting South Africa MD Vis Reddy

VIS REDDY SRK Consulting expects the growth in agriculture to bring its own set of impacts on resources, such as water

Transport infrastructure key to African economic growth

By: Darren Parker 29th October 2021 Improved transport infrastructure in Africa would contribute significantly to unlocking the continent’s economic potential, says diversified chemicals group Omnia Holdings group CEO Seelan Gobalsamy. He says there is considerable agricultural potential in East Africa, which exports products... →

Business body Busa seeks court order on mandatory Covid-19 vaccination

By: News24Wire 26th October 2021 Court action initiated by Business Unity South Africa (Busa) to seek an order on compulsory Covid-19 vaccination in the workplace is looming. The business lobby says it is consulting lawyers over the legal process of the action, which is supported by its members as part of the measures aimed at... →

ConCourt upholds Competition Commission’s appeal in hospital merger

By: Donna Slater 18th October 2021 The Competition Commission has welcomed a landmark judgment by the Constitutional Court (ConCourt), on October 15, upholding the commission’s appeal against a decision by the Competition Appeal Court (CAC) and setting aside the CAC’s decision in a matter concerning a merger between Mediclinic... →

ESG, incorporating green energy to increasingly drive business development

By: Donna Slater 15th October 2021 In terms of incorporating environment, social and governance (ESG) conscientiousness into business development models, South Africa, and the financial services sector in particular, has historically, and in recent times, been acknowledged as a global leader, law firm Pinsent Masons transactional... →

Sustaining water supply requires innovation

15th October 2021 Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu pleaded with water sector stakeholders to rally behind ensuring that water supply exceeds water demand during his keynote address at the fifth Water Research Commission Symposium held on September 20. The symposium was also attended by Kenyan High... →

A photo of Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu

SENZO MCHUNU Technologies that can use less water or no water at all are the future of our country, the continent, and the global community

Clear understanding between govt, business needed to boost economic recovery – Mavuso

By: Donna Slater 4th October 2021 Little can be done to drive an economic recovery without a clear understanding between business and government, says Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busi Mavuso, who joined other business representatives in a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa and his senior colleagues at the end of... →

Carbon tax ineffective against major emitters

By: Darren Parker 1st October 2021 South Africa’s “laughably weak and ineffective” carbon tax regime is no disincentive to carbon-intensive businesses, such as integrated chemicals and energy company Sasol, environmental activist organisation Greenpeace Africa climate and energy campaigner Thandile Chinyavanhu tells Engineering... →

A photo of a Sasol plant emitting pollution into the air while crops and flowers grow in the foreground

Photo by Reuters
PINING FOR CHANGE Greenpeace Africa ponders whether a just transition is possible while major emitters continue to be granted large-scale carbon tax allowances

Rubble recycling not seen as economically viable

By: Darren Parker 24th September 2021 The recycling of construction and demolition materials in South Africa is behind the global curve, partly because it is generally not viewed as economically viable by the vast majority of local companies operating in the sector, claims crushing and screening equipment supplier Pilot Crushtec... →

A photo of Pilot Crushtec Africa sales manager Fernando Abelho

FERNANDO ABELHO A lack of enforcement means much construction and demolition waste is not suitable for recycling into general aggregate

Competition Commission advances efforts to mitigate price gouging during pandemic

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 10th September 2021 The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a spike in price gouging and complaints from customers, and the Competition Commission of South Africa had to, and continues to, focus efforts on mitigating this situation, and has learnt several lessons from this. This was indicated during the a webinar hosted by... →

An image of Competition Commission Litigation manager

Competition Commission Litigation manager Candice Slump outlines the CC‘s legal and practical approach to price gouging during the pandemic.

A&D sectors decline needs to be halted

By: Cameron Mackay 10th September 2021 The decline of industrial sectors, such as aerospace and defence (A&D), needs to be addressed urgently, states Commercial Aerospace Manufacturing Association of South Africa (Camasa) chairperson Themba September. “The A&D sectors’ technology development benefits the manufacturing sector through... →

Image of a welder working in an aerospace manufacturing facility

COMPETING IN GLOBAL MARKETS Camasa is actively pursuing the effective integration of local major manufacturers into global supply chains, particularly in niche areas

AfCFTA support vital for growth

By: Cameron Mackay 10th September 2021 The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), implemented at the beginning of this year, can potentially boost African aerospace manufacturing by improving export sophistication across Africa, states Commercial Aerospace Manufacturing Association of South Africa chairperson Themba September.... →

Image of CAMASA chairman Themba September

THEMBA SEPTEMBER For aerospace manufacturing, the prospect of improvements in export sophistication across Africa can lead to an enhanced prominence of aerospace manufactured products

Local companies continue to export despite poor local market

By: Cameron Mackay 3rd September 2021 Despite the fiscally constrained state of the local economy, local equipment suppliers are successfully exporting their products, says South African Capital Equipment Export Council (Saceec) CEO Eric Bruggeman. “In 2017, we exported about R198-billion worth of equipment, and this has remained... →

Investment required in local oil refineries

By: Anna Moross 3rd September 2021 Oil refineries lack the ability to provide sufficient base lubricants and are unable to keep up with the local demand from local lubricant blenders. →

An image of David Coughlan, the Oilflow director

DAVID COUGHLAN Oil refineries refine base oil to make petrol and diesel, and several by-products such as lubricant base oils

Employment Equity Directorate gearing up for implementation, enforcement of Act

By: Simone Liedtke 2nd September 2021 The Department of Employment and Labour’s Employment Equity (EE) Directorate is gearing itself for the implementation and enforcement of the new EE Act once the Parliamentary processes are finalised by March 2022. EE director Ntsoaki Mamashela is hopeful that the processing of the EE Bill will... →

Govt targets August next year, or sooner, for third-party rail access

By: Irma Venter 30th August 2021 The current target date for enabling third-party operators in the rail-freight sector is August next year, says Dr Sean Phillips, head of National Treasury’s Operation Vulindlela unit. There are, however, ongoing efforts under way to speed up the time frame put on the table by Transnet, he adds. →

Grindrod targets port, rail projects in govt’s private sector participation drive

By: Irma Venter 27th August 2021 Ports and logistics operator Grindrod is positioning itself to take part in the private sector participation (PSP) opportunities to be created by government in the rail and port sectors, says Grindrod Freight Services CEO Xolani Mbambo. “Government has called for international players to come and... →

Andrew Waller

Fully developed legislation needed

By: Nadine Ramdass 27th August 2021 The legislation has not caught up with where the gas industry needs it to be, says gas producer Renergen CEO and MD Stefano Marani. Technical aspects that are critical to companies’ decision-making have not yet been addressed, with industries in the gas sector consequently unable to develop to... →

An image of gas extraction at Renergen's Virginia Gas project

GAS EXTRACTION Renergen is the only onshore petroleum rights holder in South Africa

Opinion: New issues with amended amended Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act for private power generation

24th August 2021 In this opinion article, law firm Webber Wentzel's Jason van der Poel, Alexandra Felekis and Mzukisi Kota write about uncertainties that remain following the latest amendments to Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act. →

Impasse between government and labour sets tone for a testy day at the ConCourt

By: News24Wire 24th August 2021 Despite a hard-won public service wage deal being reached in late July, public service unions and government departments will on Tuesday return to the Constitutional Court where labour representatives are appealing a Labour Court ruling excusing government from sticking to a wage deal that dates... →

Demand for vaccines requires boost to enable full reopening of economy

By: Donna Slater 23rd August 2021 Despite an anti-vaccination contingent in South Africa’s society, Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busi Mavuso says common sense and rationality prevail for the most part in terms of acceptance and a willingness to get vaccinated – a factor that could soon mean the complete reopening of the... →

US moves to secure critical minerals for EV supply chain

By: Darren Parker 20th August 2021 Modern civilisation was built on fossil fuels, with the invention and commercialisation of the internal combustion engine during the 1800s setting the stage for petroleum-based vehicles to be dominant worldwide for the next 150 years. Various oil majors continue to produce huge volumes of oil and... →

Image of Engineering News and Mining Weekly magazine cover

Repower, repurpose plans under way for utility

By: Cameron Mackay 20th August 2021 State-owned power utility Eskom is progressing with plans to repower and repurpose some of its coal power stations, build greenfield power plants with cleaner technologies and invest in necessary grid infrastructure to support these plans. Repowering and repurposing the Komati power station, in... →

Image of the rock statue outside of Eskom's Megawatt Park

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
A JUST ENERGY TRANSITION Eskom is undertaking modelling work to determine the pace of the utility’s transition to use more renewable energy sources to meet decarbonisation targets

Court decision could increase electricity prices, revenue

By: Cameron Mackay 20th August 2021 National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) is appealing a High Court application that State-owned power utility Eskom brought against Nersa last year, which states that Nersa exceeded its boundaries regarding the determination on tariff adjustments requested by Eskom. Energy sector law... →

NIKITA LALLA Eskom’s argument is that Nersa had gone beyond its statutory or regulatory regime, and the information it was allowed to consider in determining tariff increases

Legislative guidance needed to unlock renewable- energy-storage benefits

By: Cameron Mackay 20th August 2021 The use of renewable energy, such as solar photovoltaic, and exploring energy storage technologies, are integral to balancing the local energy mix in South Africa, including in the domestic and commercial sectors of the country. However, government needs to provide more guidance in terms of... →

Image of a solar energy system roof mounting installed by Valsa Energy

AFFORDABLE ENERGY The reduction in the cost of solar generation technologies will make energy storage more viable locally

Business rescue the solution, not the problem, as more businesses face difficulties

By: Simone Liedtke 16th August 2021 Law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) business rescue and insolvency director Lucinde Rhoodie says South Africa can expect an uptick in business rescue filings, as more businesses will look to it as a means of saving their companies following significant impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the... →

Pic/Image of Closed for Business Sign in Shop Storefront.

Business rescue and insolvency director Lucinde Rhoodie discusses the potential uptick in business rescue filings in South Africa following recent civil unrest, and the country's still-struggling economy. Video: Recorded on Zoom. Editing: Creamer Media's Nicholas Boyd.

Eskom, W Cape govt welcome amendments giving effect to 100 MW reform

By: Donna Slater 13th August 2021 The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s (DMRE’s) August 12 Gazetting of its amendment to Section 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act has been welcomed by State-owned power utility Eskom and the Western Cape provincial government. The amendment permits private electricity generators to... →

New consumer campaign launched to assist in the fight against illicit cigarettes

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 11th August 2021 South Africa’s tobacco industry is stepping up its campaign against illicit cigarette producers with a new educational campaign aimed at helping smokers distinguish between legal and illicit products. The ‘Know What You Smoke’ campaign is hinged on an animated video that explains how the price of... →

City of Johannesburg appoints new mayor in wake of Makhubo’s death

By: Donna Slater 10th August 2021 Following the death of City of Johannesburg Mayor Geoff Makhubo on July 9, an extraordinary council meeting on August 10 resulted in Councillor Jolidee Matongo being elected as the new executive Mayor. Matongo, who is the former Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Finance in the current... →

eThekwini municipality approves relief, recovery measures for businesses

By: Donna Slater 6th August 2021 The eThekwini municipality has approved various measures to support business customers that have been affected by the mid-July civil unrest that saw widespread looting and destruction of property and assets in the province.  The rapid implementation of eThekwini mayor councillor Mxolisi Kaunda’s... →

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