Eskom to approach courts to have Nersa’s 5.23% tariff decision set aside

Eskom to approach courts to have Nersa’s 5.23% tariff decision set aside: State-owned electricity utility Eskom will, in the coming days, approach the courts to have the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) tariff determination for 2018/19 set aside, chairperson Jabu Mabuza confirmed on Thursday. The action would represent Eskom’s first-ever legal challenge of the regulator’s decision. It follows Nersa’s decision to grant Eskom a 5.23% increase from April 1, which Mabuza said was “not cost reflective”. The utility applied for an increase of 19.9% as part of a one-year revenue application.

aubrey

aubrey: The cash-in-transit heists, taxi violence and political assassinations in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) should worry us deeply. What they suggest is the possibility that both policing and our intelligence environment may be in a state of crisis. While it is critical that we avoid errors in analysis that may occur if we become unnecessarily alarmist, we must be concerned about the possible emergence of a state of dual power – the power of the State, on the one hand, and that of criminal networks, on the ...

Gauging The Emerging Jihadist Threat In Mocambique

https://www.stratfor.com/article/gauging-emerging-jihadist-threat-mozambique

Ethiopia: Truth And Reconciliation

ETHIOPIA

Truth and Reconciliation

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed admitted that his country’s security institutions have tortured and committed “terrorist acts” against its own citizens in the past.

He also hinted he might seek to abolish an anti-terrorism law that has led to the detention and prosecution of thousands in the East African country, Al-Jazeera reported.

“Our constitution doesn’t allow it, but we have been torturing, causing bodily damages and even putting inmates in dark prison cells,” Ahmed said in an address to parliament on Monday. “These were terrorist acts committed by us, and using force just to stay in power is a terrorist act too.”

The admission comes after Ethiopia lifted a state of emergency earlier this month that was imposed to quell massive anti-government protests that forced his predecessor to resign. Since Ahmed took office in April this year, the government has freed more than 1,000 prisoners, including some prominent opposition leaders, as he has sought to win the faith of his people and the international community.

Cash-in-transit heists could lead to losses of R470m, Parliament hears

Cash-in-transit heists could lead to losses of R470m, Parliament hears: Cash-in-transit heists will lead to cash losses of R470-million this year if the current trend continues, the Portfolio Committee on Police heard on Wednesday. The meeting brought together a range of stakeholders concerned with cash-in-transit heists, including the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric). Forty-nine vehicles have been lost so far this year, at a cost of R64-million to the industry, according to Sabric's presentation to the committee. According to Sabric's ...

Steinhoff Africa Retail brings in heavyweight businesswoman Wendy Luhabe

Jun 11 2018 10:38 

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Steinhoff Africa Retail (STAR) on Monday announced the appointment of Wendy Luhabe to its board as independent non-executive director, with effect from January 1, 2019.

Luhabe is an experienced businessperson who has served in boards of various companies, including the Industrial Development Corporation, Vodacom  and the JSE.

STAR said in statement Luhabe “has been appointed as an independent non-executive director of the board of STAR, with effect from 1 January 2019.”

She started her career 37 years ago, and is one of the founding directors of Women Investment Portfolio Holdings, a leading black women-owned investment company.

In 2002 she founded the multimillion dollar Women Private Equity Fund, which invests in women-owned or -led businesses.

• READ: STAR clarifies Remgro bid, responds to Van Huyssteen

STAR chairperson Jayendra Naidoo welcomed Luhabe’s appointment, describing her as someone with an “impressive track record as a business leader" who has "made a huge impact in the business community in South Africa.” 

Luhabe’s appointment follows the departure of Ben la Grange, who resigned as non-executive director of STAR in January.

• READ: Ben la Grange quits Steinhoff Africa Retail

STAR, which was established following a decision to separate Steinhoff’s emerging and developed market retail businesses, listed on the JSE in September 2017.

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Nairobi: Holy Rhymes

Holy Rhymes

Many in his Nairobi parish know him as Father Paul, or “Masaa.”

But to young people around town, he’s known as “Sweet Paul” for his positive rhymes in freewheeling raps about youth community involvement.

“I rap sweet, I talk sweet, I dance sweet,” he told the BBC.

Father Paul began his unconventional preaching style in the wake of tragedy in 2007, when a stampede during a concert in Nairobi left several young people dead, according to Kenyan news agency, Standard Digital.

Afterwards, the Catholic priest started using his talent behind the mic to draw young people into safe spaces like the church to be entertained – and to discuss pressing political and cultural issues that will affect them as they come of age, like drug use, community involvement or climate change.

Father Paul sometimes delivers more traditional sermons, but some contemporaries criticize that his more-modern verses are “watering down [the] priesthood.”

But like any good rapper, Sweet Paul doesn’t let the haters affect his craft.

“Usually I tell them that we have the talents and we must use the talents.”

Click here to see this rapping priest spit his holy rhymes.

Ethiopia: A Tale Of Two Nations

ETHIOPIA

A Tale of Two Nations

Ethiopia will fully recognize the terms of a peace deal forged with neighboring Eritrea almost two decades ago, signaling a long awaited détente between the two nations.

Eritrea seceded from Ethiopia in 1993, and in 1998, the two began a bloody conflict over the proper demarcation of their shared border, Al Jazeera reported.

Both sides signed a truce in 2000 allocating certain border lands to Eritrea in order to end the conflict that had already killed tens of thousands, but Ethiopia continued to occupy the ceded areas. The countries have been in a state of “no peace no war” ever since, the Financial Times reported.

Fully recognizing the peace accords is just the latest move in a string of reforms undertaken by newly inaugurated Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, whose premiership comes with promises to liberalize the nation after 26 years of authoritarian rule in Ethiopia.

Already this week, Abiy announced plans to allow private investment into traditionally state-run enterprises, and lifted a state of emergency in the nation two months earlier than originally planned.

Africa Business News - 18 May 2018 (Part 2)

Democratic Republic Of The Congo-Virunga National Park Closed

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Closing Time

The Democratic Republic of Congo has shuttered Africa’s oldest national park until 2019 after the death of a ranger and the abduction of two British tourists by local rebels this year.

Virunga National Park Director Emmanuel de Merode said in a statement Monday that the world-famous home to mountain gorillas will remain closed until the end of the year to allow a thorough review of security precautions, the Guardian reported. The park will also beef up its force of 700 rangers.

Tourist activities in Virunga had been temporarily suspended after a May incident in which militants killed one ranger, wounded another and abducted two British tourists. At least 12 rangers have been killed in such incidents in the last 10 months, and more than 180 rangers have been killed in Virunga over the last 20 years.

Meanwhile, the DRC faces the specter of broader violence, due to political instability stemming from President Joseph Kabila’s refusal to step down in 2016 – possibly gearing up for an unconstitutional bid at a third term in elections slated for December.

D

Ethiopia: Keep Calm AndCarry On

ETHIOPIA

Keep Calm and Carry On

Ethiopia’s government on Saturday approved a draft law that would lift its six-month-long state of emergency two months ahead of schedule.

Parliament, which is entirely controlled by the ruling party coalition, is expected to approve the law, the Washington Post reported.

Put in place following the resignation of Hailemariam Desalegn as prime minister in February, the state of emergency barred most gatherings and gave increased power to security forces amid widespread strikes over the slow pace of releases of political prisoners. The early relaxation of the restrictions indicates that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has helped bring greater stability since taking office in April, the paper said.

Prime Minister Abiy has freed thousands of prisoners, toured the country listening to people’s grievances and reached out to opposition leaders, prompting hopes that he aims to usher in genuine democratic reform.

The Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups, which make up two-thirds of Ethiopia’s population, demand better access to jobs and more political freedoms.