News 08:00

BULLETIN 23 April 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# AfriForum wants clarity from Nersa over municipal electricity tariffs
# The Communication Workers Union signs a 6% wage increase agreement with the SABC
# And netball: The new Protea squad includes eight overseas-based players

# AfriForum has requested clarity from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, on whether it still obliges municipalities to submit cost-of-supply studies when they apply for tariff increases. Municipal electricity consumers may avoid an increase in electricity tariffs this year because Nersa did not implement a High Court order that was expected to lead to lower municipal electricity rates. AfriForum’s, Morné Mostert, says in October 2022 the court found that the way Nersa annually set municipal electricity tariffs was illegal:

# The Communication Workers Union has signed a six-percent wage increase agreement with the SABC. The union, which initially demanded a nine-percent increase backdated to the first of April last year, threatened to disrupt the election should the cash-strapped public broadcaster not accede to its demand. Following a standoff at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration, an agreement was reached. The Broadcasting Electronic Media and Allied Workers Union signed the wage agreement back in February. The SABC made another 1.13-billion-rand loss last year.

# The Gauteng Health Department says the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital is operational, despite a power outage affecting parts of Johannesburg fed by the Ridge substation. City Power says a burnt feederboard at the substation had disrupted power to vital health facilities and impacted customers in Berea, Hillbrow, Parktown, and surrounding areas. The utility says it does not know when the issue will be resolved. The department says the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital has activated contingency measures and is currently running backup generators.

# The UK Parliament has finally passed the contentious Safety of Rwanda Bill after two years of legal battles and political wrangling. The bill allows the government to deport asylum seekers who arrive in the UK by irregular means to Rwanda, for their claims to be considered by the East African nation. The Supreme Court ruled last year that the bill is unlawful as Rwanda’s asylum system has a poor human rights record. British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, says Rwanda is a safe country:

# Netball: Newly appointed Proteas coach Jenny van Dyk has named her first squad following a rigorous selection process. Nine members of the squad of 15 were integral to South Africa’s World Cup campaign last year, including stalwarts Karla Pretorius, Ine-Mari Venter, and Khanyisa Chawane. Van Dyk says the squad reflects a harmonious blend of seasoned expertise and emerging talent, comprising seven domestic and eight overseas-based players. Van Dyk’s inaugural match will be against Malawi in August.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-19-cents and the euro at 20-rand-45-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-71-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-737-dollars-65-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-303-dollars-30-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollars-32-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….