ANC Sticks to Budget's Wage Bill Promises, Duarte Turns on Magashule

LOCAL NEWS

• Govt proposes a 3-year salary freeze for state employees at yesterday public service bargaining council – in line with the budget's plans to curb expenditure on the public sector wage bill.
  • State employees & unions are expected to lodge a dispute against this after they requested a massive 7.1% pay hike (CPI +4%)
• ANC factions are sowing further divisions, with deputy Sec Gen, Jesse Duarte, accusing SG Ace Magashule's supporters of leaking confidential discussions to the public in a bid to destroy the party.
  • Duarte was recorded defending Zuma and advising he remain firm in his defiance of the State Capture Commission. However, she now says recordings were manipulated.
  • Divisions in the ANC are well known, but in recent weeks have flared up publicly, with leaders openly attacking each other on social media
• Seriti-South32 coal deal hangs in the balance as a rumours of favourable treatment risk derailing the deal that would make Seriti the primary coal dealer to Eskom.
  • Rumours suggest the cost of the deal will be borne by SA consumers through higher coal prices charged to Eskom. Seriti CEO says he remains optimistic the deal will be closed