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Labour Court dismisses SAA pilots' application for leave to appeal lockout

By: News24Wire 4th March 2021 The Labour Court has on Thursday dismissed an application by the SAA Pilots Association for leave to appeal a prior judgment in December 2020 which held that the lock-out of the pilots was lawful and protected in terms of the Labour Relations Act. SAAPA members have been locked out since 18... →

'Unwarranted attacks' against Eskom could distract management from getting it back on track

By: News24Wire 4th March 2021 The Eskom board has claimed that a number of allegations made in the public and media, including against its CEO Andre de Ruyter, are aiming to influence internal operations and good governance processes at the state power utility. These allegations and what the board regards as accompanying... →

Suspended Eskom procurement chief raises allegations against De Ruyter in letter to MPs

By: News24Wire 3rd March 2021 The Standing Committee on Public Accounts has received a letter from Eskom's suspended chief procurement officer Solly Tshitangano which levels allegations against CEO André de Ruyter. As a result the committee decided not to proceed with a scheduled meeting on Wednesday, in which it was to be... →

Photo by Donna Slater
Eskom CEO André de Ruyter

Denel board exits linked to lack of budget funds, official says

By: Reuters 3rd March 2021 A series of recent resignations from the board of directors of South Africa's state-owned defence company Denel is linked to funding not being made available in the government's 2021 budget, a senior official told Reuters on Wednesday. "There were expectations from the board that there will be... →

Mantashe sees new industries emerging from South Africa’s renewables-led drive to boost electricity supply

By: Terence Creamer 3rd March 2021 South Africa’s move to increase electricity generation capacity provided a “unique opportunity” for the development of new industries, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said this week. Addressing delegates virtually during Canada’s annual Prospectors and Developers Association... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe

Glencore 'used relationship' with Ramaphosa to 'extort' Eskom, former CEO Brian Molefe claims

By: News24Wire 2nd March 2021 Former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe has told the State Capture Inquiry that Glencore used its relationship with President Cyril Ramaphosa, who used to be the chairperson of its Optimum coal mine, to try to extort money from the power utility as it renegotiated the terms of its contract. Optimum, which... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe

Labour Court rules dismissal of top Prasa executives was unlawful

By: News24Wire 2nd March 2021 The Labour Court in Johannesburg handed judgment on Tuesday declaring the termination of employment of three Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa's executives unlawful. They are former chief operating officer Nkosinathi Khena, former executive for risk and legal compliance Onica Ngoye and former... →

Denel finance chief quits

By: News24Wire 2nd March 2021 South African State-owned defence company Denel said on Monday that CFO Carmen le Grange had resigned, extending a recent string of resignations that have deepened a crisis at the struggling firm. Last week, Fin24 reported that the company's chief operating officer William Hlakoane was appointed... →

Nersa approves Transnet petroleum tariff

By: Simone Liedtke 1st March 2021 The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has set the Petroleum Pipelines System tariff, which will allow State-owned rail entity Transnet to realise an 11.15% decrease in allowable revenue (AR) compared with the 2020/21 tariff period. However, owing to a forecasted reduction in the... →

Eskom bondholders take comfort from guarantee amid rescue talks

By: Bloomberg 1st March 2021 Bondholders of South Africa’s state-owned electricity company are watching the latest round of rescue talks from a distance. Yields suggest they’re confident their money is safe, whether or not the discussions result in a sustainable solution for Eskom Holdings' $32-billion debt pile. Eskom’s... →

No real growth without fixing structural impediments first – Econometrix

By: Irma Venter 26th February 2021 “The only way out of our economic dilemma is to get this economy to grow faster,” says Econometrix chief economist Dr Azar Jammine. “And, in order to achieve that, we need to address the key structural impediments that have been holding back our economic growth performance.” →

DPE defends SAA vaccine flight to Brussels

By: Rebecca Campbell 26th February 2021 The Department of Public Enterprises has defended the recent flight by a South African Airways aircraft to Brussels, in Belgium, to collect anti-Covid-19 vaccines. State-owned SAA is currently undergoing a controversial business rescue process. The flight was funded by the South African... →

Eskom suspends chief procurement officer over 'non-performance in procurement savings'

By: News24Wire 26th February 2021 Eskom has suspended its chief procurement officer, Solly Tshitangano, and will be instituting disciplinary action against him, following allegations of poor performance over the last year. Andre de Ruyter, Eskom's group chief executive officer, confirmed to News24 that Tshitangano had been... →

Photo by Donna Slater
Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter

Denel says two more board members resign

By: Reuters 26th February 2021 State-owned defence company Denel said on Thursday that two board members, including chairwoman Monhla Hlahla, had resigned, days after it said several other board members had resigned. "The recruitment process of the chairperson is underway and the appointment will be communicated to all... →

Manufacturing recovery’s slow pace a concern, Seifsa

26th February 2021 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) is concerned about the slow pace of recovery in the manufacturing sector, as depicted by the manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) number of 50.9 last month – lower than the 2020 fourth quarter average. →

MULTIPLIER EFFECT The manufacturing sector remains key to the growth and development of South Africa owing to its multiplier effect on other sectors of the economy

Government commits to improving infrastructure spending

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 24th February 2021 The 2021 Budget, presented by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni on February 24, outlines that R93.1-billion has been earmarked for economic regulation and infrastructure, from consolidated government expenditure of R2.02-trillion each year over the medium term. To boost infrastructure spending,... →

Eskom Kusile R745m corruption matter postponed for more than 3 months

By: News24Wire 23rd February 2021 The case against two former Eskom executives who were allegedly involved in a R745-million corruption case at the Kusile power station has been postponed for more than three months. Former Eskom Group Executive for the Group Capital Division Abram Masango and former contracts manager France... →

NPC underscores importance of developmental State for South Africa

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 23rd February 2021 South Africa’s challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality cannot be changed without a capable, professional, ethical and developmental State, speakers noted during a webinar hosted by government agency the National Planning Commission (NPC) on February 23. The NPC envisages a capable and... →

South Africa needs a capable and developmental State, says the NPC

Dr Pulane Molokwane details what a capable, professional and ethical developmental State entails, as well as the work the National Planning Commission has undertaken in pursuing this.

Unpacking opportunities in Africa’s gas sector

19th February 2021 Africa’s oil and gas potential will grow significantly over the next two decades, driven by population growth, urbanisation and the emergence of a wealthier middle class in Africa, according to the Africa Energy Indaba, which will take place virtually from March 1 to 5. →

OPPORTUNITIES GALORE There is no doubt that Africa remains open for exploration by oil and gas companies

Union blasts Denel directors after worker suicides: still no game plan for recovery

By: Rebecca Campbell 18th February 2021 Trade union Uasa has reacted strongly to two reported suicides by Denel workers earlier this week. The union described the news as “distressing and heart-wrenching”. It accused the State-owned defence industrial group of “simply looking on” while its unpaid or underpaid employees struggled to pay... →

SAA Technical workers still in dark about their future, as they receive partial salaries

By: News24Wire 18th February 2021 While the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) keenly awaits the completion of the implementation of the business rescue plan of South African Airways (SAA), employees of its subsidiary, SAA Technical (SAAT) are still in the dark about their future, it seems. Unlike SAA, its subsidiaries are... →

R10bn Eskom-Nersa settlement opens way for 15.63% hike on April 1

By: Terence Creamer 16th February 2021 The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) and Eskom have reached an agreement to add R10-billion to Eskom’s allowable revenue in 2021/22, to be recovered through the tariff, pending the outcome of an appeal of a 2020 High Court ruling directing the regulator to immediately add back... →

Eskom could launch bidding for repurposing and repowering of Komati within two months

By: Terence Creamer 16th February 2021 State-owned power utility Eskom is preparing a pioneering request for proposals (RFP) for the repowering and repurposing of the Komati power station, in Mpumalanga, which is among the first four coal plants scheduled for decommissioning in the coming few years. Eskom just energy transition office... →

The Komati power station

Lifting distributed-generation cap ‘one of the easier decisions’ facing government – De Ruyter

By: Terence Creamer 15th February 2021 Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter has described the plan, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation (SONA) address, to lift the licence-exemption threshold for distributed-generation plants as “one of the easier decisions” government could make in the near-term to alleviate stress... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter

Zondo blasts 'negligent' former Eskom board over R1.68bn prepayment to Gupta entity

By: News24Wire 11th February 2021 Failure by the 2015 Eskom board to interrogate the submission to authorise a R1.68-billion prepurchase payment to a Gupta-owned company cast doubt on the directors prudence, with State Capture Commission chairperson Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo going as far as calling them negligent on... →

Eskom to implement Stage 3 load-shedding from 13:00

By: Creamer Media Reporter 10th February 2021 Power utility Eskom says it will implement Stage 3 load-shedding from 13:00 on February 10 to 06:00 on February 11. This is necessary as the power generation system is still severely constrained as a result of high generation unit breakdowns during the past three days, as well as the need to... →

Green hydrogen and powerfuels could revive ailing PetroSA, unlock green steel and create €160bn export platform

By: Terence Creamer 9th February 2021 The combination of South Africa’s world-class wind, solar and land resources, its platinum group metals reserves, as well as its historical experience in industrial-scale synthetic-fuel manufacture, position the country strongly for the production of green hydrogen and tradeable synthetic... →

Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Blade Nzimande on South Africa's comparative advantage when it came to the production of renewable hydrogen and green powerfuels.

Eskom to implement Stage 2 load-shedding from 22:00

By: Creamer Media Reporter 9th February 2021 Power utility Eskom says it will implement load-shedding from 22:00 on February 9 to 05:00 on February 10 in order to preserve and replenish the emergency generation reserves and maximise the capacity available during the daytime hours. "The power generation system is still severely constrained... →

Nersa subcommittee recommends approval of 40 MW Gold Fields solar licence

By: Terence Creamer 8th February 2021 The National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) electricity subcommittee has recommended that the Energy Regulator approves Gold Fields’ high-profile licence application for a 40 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project to be developed at its South Deep mine, in Gauteng. Nersa has confirmed... →

South Deep

Nersa committee holds back approval on Eskom application to buy short-term power

By: Terence Creamer 5th February 2021 The National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) electricity subcommittee decided, on February 5, not to approve Eskom’s application for the emergency procurement of electricity from eight private generators under its Short-Term Power Purchase Programme (STPPP). In March 2020, the... →

Eskom supports lifting licensing exemption threshold for electricity generation to 50MW

5th February 2021 Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter has expressed support for a lifting of the licensing threshold on distributed generators from 1 MW to 50 MW. Engineering News editor Terence Creamer unpacks the significance of this statement. →

Eskom supports lifting licensing exemption threshold for electricity generation to 50MW

PIC clarifies board changes

By: Simone Liedtke 4th February 2021 Futhi Mtoba and Karabo Morule have been appointed to the Public Investment Corporation’s (PIC’s) interim board, following the departure of prior interim board members. The current board was appointed in July 2019 on an interim basis for a period of 12 months, which ended in July 2020. This term... →

EUIG wants wheeling reform to accompany rise in licence-exemption cap to 50 MW

By: Terence Creamer 4th February 2021 The Energy Intensive Users Group of Southern Africa (EIUG) has added its voice to growing calls to increase South Africa’s licence exemption threshold from 1 MW to 50 MW, but says the change should be accompanied by an updating of the current framework for wheeling power across the network. In a... →

Former SA Express execs could face music at inquiry as airline sale draws to an end

By: News24Wire 4th February 2021 Former executives and directors of the soon-to-be-sold state-owned regional airline SA Express (SAX) are expected to appear before an inquiry into what led to its liquidation. The inquiry started on 25 September last year. SA Express was placed under provisional liquidation in April 2020 after a... →

De Ruyter backs call for lifting of licensing cap on distributed generators to 50 MW

By: Terence Creamer 2nd February 2021 Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter says the State-owned utility is fully supportive of moves by large customers to develop distributed generation plants to power their operations, as well as growing calls to lift the licensing threshold from 1 MW to 50 MW so as to accelerate these investments. South... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter

Eskom, Sasol rebuffed, Creecy says as she fights pollution suit

By: Bloomberg 2nd February 2021 Environmental Affairs Minister Barbara Creec said she rejected pleas for leniency from senior executives at the country’s two biggest air polluters as she responded to a lawsuit that says her office has breached constitutional rights to clean air. In a 260-page answering affidavit to a lawsuit... →

Gordhan wants to 'change playing field' in SAA's rescue process, court hears

By: News24Wire 1st February 2021 Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan is trying "change the playing field" by attempting to get the Labour Court to sanction deviating from SAA's approved business rescue plan and to get an unfair advantage in terms of the collective bargaining process. This was claimed by attorney Minnaar... →

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