Water Services Amendment Bill, 2025 – Regulatory Reform Amid South Africa’s Water Crisis
In his 2026 State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the deepening national water crisis and confirmed the establishment of a President-chaired National Water Committee to coordinate urgent intervention across government. Against this backdrop, Parliament is considering the Water Services Amendment Bill, 2025 (Bill), which proposes significant amendments to the Water Services Act […]
Regulator Approves Ferrochrome Tariff Reductions for Eskom
In a significant development for the South African mining and metallurgical industry, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (“NERSA”) has approved six-year Negotiated Pricing Agreements (“NPAs”) that promise tariff reductions for key ferrochrome and smelter operations across the country. This decision has far-reaching implications for both the sustainability of these industries and the nation’s […]
Transnet Partners with ICTSI to Expand Durban Harbour Operations
In February 2023, state-owned rail freight operator Transnet SOC Limited (“Transnet”) announced that it would be engaging with the private sector to increase the efficient and timeous transport of containers between the port of Durban and the commercial hub of Johannesburg. Transnet confirmed that the announcement followed a directive from Government to engage the private […]
Public Input Open for Eskom’s Kusile Emissions License Change
In January 2023, Eskom announced plans to introduce temporary flue stacks at Kusile Power Station (“KPS”) to bypass the damaged components of Units 1, 2 and 3 due to a critical failure in Unit 1’s operating systems. The use of temporary flues would allow the damaged Units to return to operation 8 months ahead of […]
Eskom’s Temporary Flue Stacks at Kusile Raise Pollution Concerns
In October 2022, Kusile Power Station (“KPS”) was forced to take Units 1, 2 and 3 offline due to a critical failure in Unit 1’s operating systems. The breakdown has had a knock-on effect to the adjacent Units 2 and 3, making all three units inoperable and contributing significantly to the current state of loadshedding […]
Activist Groups Challenge Eskom Load Shedding in Court
A group of 19 activist and public interest groups, led by the United Democratic Movement, have instituted an urgent application in the Pretoria High Court against Eskom and several State entities, citing the ongoing Load Shedding crisis. The application seeks a two-part relief, with the first being an urgent order exempting certain sectors from the […]
Transnet To Privatize Its Durban Johannesburg Railway Line
Earlier this month, state-owned rail freight operator, Transnet SOC Limited (“Transnet”) announced that it will be engaging with the private sector to enter into a 20-year operating lease for the maintenance and operation of its Durban to Johannesburg line. Known as the “Container Corridor”, this 670km stretch of railway line has the potential to greatly […]
Government Band-Aid For Energy Crisis – Moving Eskom To DMRE
Amidst stage 6 loadshedding and the approval of an 18.65% tariff increase by NERSA, the Deputy President of South Africa has announced plans to move Eskom under the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. During the announcement, government confirmed plans to scrap the Department of Public Enterprises, and move all State Owned Enterprises into their […]
Government Finally Announces Plans To Restructure Eskom Board
Amidst growing dissatisfaction and rolling blackouts, Public Enterprise Minister Pravin Gordhan has announced plans to “restructure and reconstitute” the Board of the embattled public power utility, Eskom. Since the last reshuffle of the Board in 2018, 7 of the 13 non-executive directors have resigned from the Board of Eskom, with the remaining 8 members being […]