News24Wire

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News24Wire

News24’s breaking news wire service brings you the latest South African, African and international news reports and press updates from newsrooms across the country. Powered by the country’s leading journalists, and headed by the News24 editorial team.

Gauteng water supply recovering after emergency mitigation measures

29th September 2023 Although the water supply in Gauteng is critical in many areas, there has been an uptick in availability since Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu's visit this week. After consulting Rand Water, Johannesburg Water and municipalities, Mchunu announced water shifting as a short-term... →

Eskom reports initial success in avoiding prepaid meter catastrophe

29th September 2023 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, which has been under way for a little over a month, has been a success so far. The update is... →

Joburg tumbles in rankings of world's top financial centres

28th September 2023 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 surveys of 147 factors provided by third parties, including the World Bank, OECD, and the United... →

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

26th September 2023 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 of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel has said. Patel was briefing Parliament on the African Growth... →

Photo by Donna Slater
Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel

Government officials intervene to halt National Planning Commission briefing

26th September 2023 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 cancelled on Tuesday morning by government officials who insisted the report be given to the Cabinet... →

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

26th September 2023 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 night, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development said it had met with vaccine... →

Ramaphosa directs SIU to probe R290m botched Tshwane water project

26th September 2023 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 businessman Edwin Sodi that failed to refurbish an essential waste treatment plant in Tshwane. Ramaphosa... →

Eskom suspends loadshedding over the long weekend

22nd September 2023 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 until 05:00 on Saturday. Thereafter, loadshedding will be suspended over the long weekend and will... →

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

21st September 2023 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 consumer price inflation ticked up slightly to 4.8% in August from 4.7% in July. That kept CPI... →

Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago

Inflation ticks higher - despite lower food prices

20th September 2023 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 this was not enough to counteract a rise in fuel prices and increases in municipal tariffs, Statistics... →

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

20th September 2023 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 water pressure or no water as the summer months approach. A joint statement on Sunday by Rand Water... →

Big diesel, petrol price hikes on the cards for October

19th September 2023 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 could be increased by R1.23 a litre and R1.15c, respectively. This will push fuel prices to levels... →

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

19th September 2023 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, Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink addressed the media on the City's plan to procure and generate at least 1... →

Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink

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

18th September 2023 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 Town's mayoral committee recommended that the council approve funding for the provision of... →

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

18th September 2023 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 travelling from Musina, transporting workers to the Venetia Diamond Mine near Alldays. Social media... →

Durban business chamber calls for axing of Transnet CEO and execs

15th September 2023 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 delivery. In a letter dated 12 September and signed by Palesa Phili, CEO of the Durban Chamber of Commerce... →

Photo by Bloomberg
Transnet CEO Portia Derby

Further reprieve from Stage 6 over the weekend, Eskom says

15th September 2023 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 Saturday. Thereafter, Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented from 05:00 on Saturday until 16:00,... →

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

15th September 2023 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 stations. Duvha and Matla have an installed capacity of 3.6GW each. Energy think tank Ember on... →

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

14th September 2023 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 for private equity investment in state companies and listings on the stock exchange. This will... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan

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

14th September 2023 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 extensive meetings focusing on the country's energy crisis. On Thursday, she presented the Cabinet's... →

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

12th September 2023 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 Presidency has told News24. This while a public sector union claimed 80 000 jobs would be cut from... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

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

12th September 2023 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 Gungubele. "Digital transformation is moving fast globally. It is not informed by our spirit, it is... →

Communications and Digital Technology Minister Mondli Gungubele

Stage 6 overnight, with higher stages of loadshedding all week

12th September 2023 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

12th September 2023 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 services hang over the country. Federations were urgently advised of the meeting two days ago, although it... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Non-stop Stage 4 until further notice after breakdowns

11th September 2023 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 further notice, Eskom announced. Previously, loadshedding was supposed to alternate between Stages 3... →

Eskom's Arnot power station

Loadshedding to ease further on Saturday

8th September 2023 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 implementation of Stage 6 when Eskom recently suffered several breakdowns at the same time as it ramped up... →

Medium-term budget policy statement now expected a week later

8th September 2023 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 Thursday. Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said that while she had received a letter from Godongwana... →

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is now expected to deliver his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement on November 1

New challenge brewing for Karpowership's Saldanha Bay plant

8th September 2023 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 its proposed Saldanha Bay plant. In July, Creecy had overturned a decision by her department's chief... →

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

7th September 2023 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 penalties worth R92.4-million in favour of Bombardier, a subsidiary of French train giant Alstom. The... →

State wants private companies to upgrade SA's border posts

6th September 2023 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 Africa Development Community, stop the illegal movement of goods and people, and assist in effective... →

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi

Huge diesel, petrol price hikes confirmed for Wednesday

4th September 2023 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 Association, this is a record price increase. Illuminating paraffin prices will be hiked by R2.78 a... →

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

4th September 2023 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 Saturday, the City released a statement claiming that Rand Water was responsible for the water supply... →

City of Tshwane

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

31st August 2023 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 levelled against him by Tlhakudi in Parliament in an effort to put the matter to bed. But, at the... →

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan

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

30th August 2023 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 pressure on the country's already strained power grid as the need for cooling increases, it warned. Other... →

Loadshedding bumped to Stage 4 overnight as more generating units fail

29th August 2023 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 daily until further notice. →

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

29th August 2023 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 of loadshedding on the province on Tuesday, but informed the committee chairperson at the eleventh... →

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa

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

28th August 2023 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 Sunday. This comes as the plant got a helping hand from the Resource Mobilisation Fund - a vehicle... →

The Tutuka power station

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

28th August 2023 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 space" and has "done the kind of modernisation that is required". The minister's comments come on... →

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa

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

25th August 2023 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 licence for another 20 years. Speaking at a briefing to editors in Johannesburg on Thursday,... →

Koeberg power station

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

25th August 2023 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 to register with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa. The four IPPs will supply power from... →

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

24th August 2023 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 rampant criminality that has been impacting its operations, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) on 1 August... →

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