Telegram channel "South Africa, future of the West 🇿🇦" — @ZA_future_of_the_West

South Africa, future of the West 🇿🇦

21 Jan, 18:43

Forward from: Africa Intel

🇿🇦 Eskom's 300-Day Load Shedding-Free Milestone

South Africa’s national power utility, Eskom, has achieved a milestone of 300 consecutive days without load shedding as of January 20, 2025. This marks the longest period without power outages since June 2018, showcasing improvements in the country’s energy sector.

Key achievements include a 7.6% reduction in Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF), R16.42 billion in diesel savings, and the return of Koeberg Unit 2 to the grid, adding 930MW. Eskom’s summer outlook remains optimistic, with no load shedding projected, thanks to improved generation performance and strategic use of peaking stations.

#SouthAfrica
@africaintel

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South Africa, future of the West 🇿🇦

21 Jan, 15:57

Expected fuel price 5 February:

Petrol R0.95 ⬆️
Diesel R1.15 ⬆️

https://businesstech.co.za/news/energy/807844/r1-00-per-litre-petrol-price-pain-for-south-africa/

R1.00 per litre petrol price pain for South Africa

Volatile oil and currency markets are doing South Africa no favours, with fuel price recoveries continuing to trend in a painful direction for motorists.

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South Africa, future of the West 🇿🇦

21 Jan, 13:56

New Starlink scam in South Africa – MyBroadband
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/security/578761-new-starlink-scam-in-south-africa.html

New Starlink scam in South Africa

An entity claiming to sell hardware that can spoof Starlink dish locations shows numerous signs of being a scam operation.

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South Africa, future of the West 🇿🇦

21 Jan, 12:44

We don't have money, so why visit?

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South Africa, future of the West 🇿🇦

21 Jan, 12:43

Forward from: South Africa Reports

🇺🇦🇿🇦 Ukraine says Zelensky will visit South Africa

Ukraine has said that President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to visit South Africa, though official details and timing are still pending.

Zelensky is hoping to discuss the issue with President Cyril Ramaphosa at the upcoming World Economic Forum in Davos.

@SouthAfricaReports

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South Africa, future of the West 🇿🇦

20 Jan, 22:36

Improvements at Cape Town Container Terminal | News | Fruitnet
https://www.fruitnet.com/eurofruit/improvements-at-cape-town-container-terminal/264581.article

Improvements at Cape Town Container Terminal

Sati confirms reports of improvements in productivity at Cape Town Container Terminal, aided by fewer windbound hours

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South Africa, future of the West 🇿🇦

20 Jan, 18:22

Forward from: South Africa's violence project

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2025-01-20-suspected-poacher-killed-by-hippo-in-kruger-national-park/

Some good news🥳

Suspected poacher killed by hippo in Kruger National Park

The body of a suspected poacher was found on a road in the Pretoriuskop section of Kruger National Park.

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South Africa, future of the West 🇿🇦

20 Jan, 18:21

Forward from: South Africa's violence project

https://www.capeindependent.com/article/rp-pushes-non-racialism-bill-to-end-race-quotas

RP pushes Non-racialism Bill to end race quotas | The Cape Independent

The party has challenged the DA and VF+, who claim to support an end to these policies, to put their money where their mouths are.

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South Africa, future of the West 🇿🇦

20 Jan, 18:21

Forward from: South Africa's violence project

https://www.capeindependent.com/article/solidariteit-launches-its-legal-campaign-against-the-bela-act

Solidariteit launches its legal campaign against the BELA Act | The Cape Independent

After the betrayal of the NEDLAC agreement by the ruling coalition, the movement has taken steps to challenge the reforms at court.

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South Africa, future of the West 🇿🇦

20 Jan, 16:57

https://t.me/SouthAfricaReports/4377

South Africa Reports

South African businesses already pay 27% corporate tax, among the highest globally (with few benefits). Now, Government proposes an additional 3% of post-tax profit for a transformation fund, equivalent to 2.19% of pre-tax profit. This effectively raises the corporate tax burden to 29.19%. Excludin...

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South Africa, future of the West 🇿🇦

20 Jan, 15:25

Electricity shortages
Logistics challenges
Water constraints
Governance failures

All of these items are directly controlled by the State.

All of these items are mismanaged to create opportunities for wealth extraction, aka looting of taxpayer funds.

https://businesstech.co.za/news/finance/807626/ramaphosa-hunting-south-africas-big-four/

Ramaphosa hunting South Africa’s ‘big four’

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s lofty promises don’t stand a chance unless South Africa’s ‘big four’ can be toppled.

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South Africa, future of the West 🇿🇦

20 Jan, 15:24

https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/807566/new-bee-tax-for-business-in-south-africa-draws-fire/

New BEE tax for business in South Africa draws fire

Proposals to take private sector profits and funnel them into a new BEE fund have drawn sharp criticism from the ANC’s key GNU partner.

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South Africa, future of the West 🇿🇦

20 Jan, 11:47

Forward from: South Africa Reports

🇺🇸🇿🇦 What does Trump’s likely Africa team say about policy direction?

There is broad consensus among Washington insiders that Trump will tap Peter Pham as his assistant secretary of state for Africa – the top diplomat tasked with running policy for sub-Saharan Africa. Pham, a seasoned scholar on Africa, served twice during the first Trump administration – as Special Envoy for the Great Lakes and then for the Sahel.

In a November 2024 opinion piece about Trump’s likely Africa policy, Pham said Trump expected reciprocity beyond trade. He said one of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) eligibility criteria was that would-be beneficiaries did ‘not engage in activities that undermine United States national security or foreign policy interests.’

Pham said outgoing president Joe Biden’s administration overlooked that with South Africa, ‘the biggest beneficiary of AGOA and several other American programmes, notwithstanding the country’s closeness to Russia, China and Iran, and its role in leading the “genocide” case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.’

Pham noted that all three national security team members nominated by Trump had raised concerns about ‘Pretoria’s positioning itself in the orbit of Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran as well as its antisemitic antics.’ (The three were Senator Marco Rubio – secretary of state, Michael Waltz – national security adviser, and Elise Stefanik – UN ambassador.)

So South Africa’s new US Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool faces a tough task, keeping South Africa in AGOA and in America’s reasonably good books. He has already taken some preemptive action, telling Daily Maverick that South Africa should ‘put away the megaphone’ on Gaza.

Rasool also believes Pretoria and Trump are basically ‘in alignment’ on Russia’s war against Ukraine because both share a ‘healthy disrespect for NATO’ and oppose the Biden administration’s imperative that NATO should ‘surround Russia.’

https://issafrica.org/iss-today/what-does-trump-s-likely-africa-team-say-about-policy-direction

What does Trump’s likely Africa team say about policy direction?

While the incoming US President is expected to be tough on SA, his wider Africa policy is less clear.