NERSA to Decide on Eskom's 20.5% Tariff Increase on Thursday

LOCAL NEWS

• NERSA to decide on Thursday on Eskom’s 20.5% tariff increase and its means of calculation. This number may be smaller if NERSA aligns the approved revenue in line with the poor technical performance of its generation fleet. These electricity hikes will come into effect in April – MoneyWeb
• DA tables new alternative budget ahead of tomorrow’s official budget meeting. Proposes that net loan debt (as % of GDP) may not exceed the net loan debt of the previous year.
  • Also proposed targeted spending cuts as part of its debt containment model, and a R105bn (over 3y period) basic oncome grant model that was contingent on revenue generate from GDP growth.
  • Meanwhile Union COSATU called for financially distressed workers to be able to access a portion of their pensions, while preserving adequate funds for retirement
• SAA set to receive R3.5bn of its R14bn bailout package set by Govt a number of years back. Gordhan stressed this is not a new bailout and that the Takatso partnership would eventually remove the airline from its dependence on govt bailouts – Business Live
• SA breweries calls for the Treasury to reduce taxes on the alcohol industry and only impose any increases in line with inflation, while the SA Alcohol policy association says taxes should be increased to deter higher consumption – M&G