Podcasts about R17

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme says it has finalised its 2025 student allowance caps and confirmed a second upfront payment to universities. NSFAS says as the tertiary education academic year continues, it has released this information to all institutions in order to ensure that students receive their March allowances on time. Despite this, activists say issues persist, particularly for TVET college students, as payments are dependent on processes that often delays financial aid. Concerns around maladministration and financial mismanagement at the agency are rife, particularly with regards to over R17 billion allocated for student accommodation. Jon Gericke spoke to NSFAS Spokesperson, Ishmael Mnisi

Anglo-American's Cash Raid on Anglo-Platinum Anglo-American's decision to unbundle its stake in Anglo-Platinum raises concerns. Declaring a special dividend of R59 per share wipes out the company's entire R17.6 billion cash reserves. Implications for investors: selling pressure expected as shares land in new brokerage accounts. China's Tech Revival? The appearance of Jack Ma and Xi Jinping together could mark a softening stance toward tech companies. Alibaba partners with Apple, integrating its AI into Apple's ecosystem. Is China reopening the door for its tech giants? Bull Market Momentum Global indices continue to hit all-time highs, with AI and tech stocks leading the charge. Not just tech: European and Asian markets show strength. Are valuations stretched, or is there more room to run? Simon Brown * I hold ungeared positions. All charts by KoyFin | Get 10% off your order    

  Local Inflation Update Inflation at 3.8% - lowest since March 2021 (3.5 years ago) Well below SARB's target range midpoint of 4.5% Q3 year-on-year inflation at 4.3% (vs SARB's expected 4.4%) SA CPI YonY September 2024 November MPC Meeting Outlook Rate cut expected, but size uncertain Possibility of 25bps vs 50bps cut Factors affecting decision: Rand weakness Rising oil prices Global economic conditions Important titbit about today's SA headline CPI print. It meant that CPI rose by 4.3% y/y in Q3 2024. In Sept, SARB expected 4.4% for Q3, implying Sept print largely in line with their expectations. Therefore, today's number will not change SARB's thinking. Folks should calm down. — Hugo Pienaar (@hugopien) October 23, 2024   Currency Markets US Dollar showing significant strength DXY moved from 100.42 to 104.33 (≈4% increase in one month) Strong capital flows into US Rand trading at R17.73 Potential to move above R18 Long-term targets of R16.80 and R15.50 looking less likely short-term US Election Impact Potential implications of different outcomes Trump's proposed policies could be inflationary: Planned tariffs Immigration restrictions Impact on labor markets and prices Famous Brands Results Analysis Using AI Demonstration of AI analysis using Google Notebook LM Key findings: Leading Brands: Operating margin >50% Signature Brands: Operating margin -6.7% Manufacturing: Improved margins due to diesel savings Geographic performance varies: South Africa: 1.8% margin UK operations showing significant decline Cash generation at R498 million (7% decrease) Plans for 89 new stores Chapters 00:00 Local Inflation and Economic Outlook 06:01 Using AI for Investment Analysis 12:06 Famous Brands Results Analysis 18:05 Comparative Analysis with SPUR Simon Brown * I hold ungeared positions. All charts by KoyFin | Get 10% off your order

アゼルバイジャンGP、シンガポールGPとマクラーレンの2連勝に終わり、残り6戦でドライバーズ・チャンピオンシップが動くのかどうかが焦点になってきましたね。ダニエル・リカルドはRBのシートを降りることがレース後に発表されましたが、「ラストレース」記念のファステストラップは、レッドブル陣営の汚らわしきチームプレイと捉えられた面もあり・・・綺麗には終わりませんね。他、暴言が飛び交うF1をどう考えるか、F1サーキットのペイント業者の話など。 引き続き、番組宛のメッセージ受付中です。本の感想を送っていただいたかたには折り返し、特典エピソードをプレゼント中です。メールアドレスを明記して、Googleフォームかメールでお送りください。 ——— F1ファンになる方法　番組ホームページ https://unracer.com/f1/ F1ファンになる方法　YouTubeチャンネル https://www.youtube.com/@f1log キリノート（ブログ） https://fognote.hatenablog.com 番組宛メッセージフォーム https://forms.gle/qePmHJasUxHPhrga9 桐野のブルースカイ https://bsky.app/profile/lhr385.bsky.social 桐野のマストドン https://mastodon.social/@lhr385 桐野宛のマシュマロ https://marshmallow-qa.com/drkirino ——— ■トピック　政治家とフリースポーツ観戦券 How many free sports tickets have Starmer and MPs received? https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/ce9j2ky7412o ■リザルト　R17アゼルバイジャン 手に汗握る大接戦の末、ピアストリが2勝目。マクラーレンが首位浮上【決勝レポート／F1第17戦】 https://www.as-web.jp/f1/1127445 【正式結果】2024年F1第17戦アゼルバイジャンGP決勝 https://www.as-web.jp/f1/1127448 Ｆ１＝ペレス父、息子のクラッシュ後に意識失い搬送─報道 https://jp.reuters.com/life/sports/3G7EG3OQ6RLG3KQHUN7Z5JYOME-2024-09-18/ ■リザルト　R18シンガポール ノリスがポール・トゥ・ウインで今季3勝目。2位フェルスタッペンに20.945秒差の圧勝【決勝レポート／F1第18戦】 https://www.as-web.jp/f1/1130361 【順位結果】2024年F1第18戦シンガポールGP決勝 https://www.as-web.jp/f1/1130357 ■トピック　リカルドの引退？ マクラーレン、リカルドの“奇妙な”ファステスト援護受けレッドブルとRBの関係見直しを要求「チームは完全に独立していなくては」 https://jp.motorsport.com/f1/news/mclaren-wants-review-of-red-bull-rb-relationship-after-peculiar-ricciardo-fastest-lap/10657224/ RBドライバー交代を発表しないレッドブル。契約解除を言い渡されたリカルド側が提示条件に難色か https://www.as-web.jp/f1/1131485?all WHEN LAWSON KNEW HE WAS GETTING RB SEAT AND HOW RICCIARDO HANDLED IT https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/when-lawson-knew-he-was-getting-rb-seat-and-how-ricciardo-handled-it/ ■暴言とは？ FIA boss used 'stereotypical' language - Hamilton https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/cly3vr0zg1lo フェルスタッペンの”社会奉仕”ペナルティに、ハミルトンがアドバイス？「僕ならやらないし、彼もそうすべき」 https://jp.motorsport.com/f1/news/hamilton-hopes-verstappen-ignores-fia-punishment-for-swearing/10656817/ ■トピック　サーキットのペイントとトラックリミットの青 How Formula 1 Tracks Are Painted https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6IWcAx3hW8

Summary: In this episode of JSE Direct, Simon Brown delves into the latest developments in South African markets, focusing on the impact of China's major economic stimulus and the strengthening of the Rand. Key highlights include: Rand Strength: The Rand has seen notable appreciation, reaching levels of R17.12 to the US dollar. Simon discusses the drivers behind this, particularly US dollar weakness and foreign purchases of South African bonds. He explores possible future movements, with a target of R16.80 and potential for further strengthening. USDZAR | Weekly | 26 Sep 24 Global Stimulus: China's massive stimulus measures, including relaxed lending rules for banks and lower interest rates, are aimed at boosting consumer demand. This is the largest Chinese stimulus since 2008, with significant potential to impact global commodities and bolster the South African economy. Commodities & Bull Market: The commodities market is seeing positive movement, with Chinese demand driving up prices for industrial metals like copper, iron ore, and coal. Simon notes how the previous commodity bull run in 2021 significantly strengthened the Rand and discusses the potential for a similar scenario if China's economy continues to gain momentum. Market Performance: South Africa is outperforming other emerging markets, particularly Brazil and Mexico, over the past six months. Simon explains the drivers of this outperformance and highlights the continuing bull run in the JSE Top 40 and All-Share indices. SA Equities: Our fortunes have changed significantly since the GNU was formed in June. SA has dramatically outperformed (in US$) not only Emerging markets in general, but Brazil & Mexico. SA has tilted more centrist, with a focus on the economy. Brazil & Mexico both shifted left. pic.twitter.com/Zz6OOM4dCJ — Karin Richards (@Richards_Karin) September 23, 2024   Rate Cuts: South Africa and several other global economies, including the US and Europe, have entered a rate-cutting cycle. Simon emphasises the importance of this for markets, especially property stocks, which are benefiting from lower bond yields and improved investor sentiment. JSE Index Changes: Anglo Platinum has been removed from the JSE Top 40 index, replaced by Pepkor. Simon discusses why Pepkor's entry is significant, given its position as a retailer and its attractive valuation compared to competitors. Key Discussion Points: Rand's strengthening trajectory and foreign capital inflows. China's economic stimulus and its potential effects on global commodities. Outlook for South Africa's bond and equity markets. Changes in the JSE Top 40 index with Pepkor replacing Anglo Platinum. Global rate-cutting trends and their impact on local property stocks. Simon Brown * I hold ungeared positions. All charts by KoyFin | Get 10% off your order    

Stephen Grootes speaks to Sim Tshabalala, CEO of Standard Bank Group, and Dr. Iraj Abedian, CEO of Pan-African Investments and Research Services, about President Cyril Ramaphosa's US visit, where he urged American businesses to deepen their investment in South Africa.   In other interviews on this episode of The Money Show, Matete Thulare, Head of FX Execution at RMB, speaks about the Rand breaking below R17.20 for the first time since January 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephen Grootes speaks to Matete Thulare, Head of FX Execution at RMB, about the rand's bull run, which saw the currency break below R17.20 for the first time since January 2023, fueled by China's new stimulus package.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La DS du Général de Gaulle en version électrique : "Ca viendra" promet la direction de Stellantis. Pourquoi aller chercher cette vieille gloire aujourd'hui ? Après la Renault 5 ou la R17, est-ce qu'il faut être vintage pour vendre des voitures neuves ? Ecoutez L'éco & You avec Martial You du 17 septembre 2024.

Le modèle rappellera des souvenirs aux nostalgiques de l'automobile : à l'occasion du Mondial de l'Auto de Paris (14-20 octobre), Renault ressortira la R17, son coupé sportif mythique, en version moderne. Elle ne sera toutefois pas en vente pour l'instant puisqu'il s'agit pour l'heure d'un concept-car. Présentation signée Christophe Bourroux pour RTL. Ecoutez L'invité de RTL Midi avec Vincent Parizot du 06 septembre 2024.

Le modèle rappellera des souvenirs aux nostalgiques de l'automobile : à l'occasion du Mondial de l'Auto de Paris (14-20 octobre), Renault ressortira la R17, son coupé sportif mythique, en version moderne. Elle ne sera toutefois pas en vente pour l'instant puisqu'il s'agit pour l'heure d'un concept-car. Présentation signée Christophe Bourroux pour RTL. Ecoutez L'invité de RTL Midi avec Vincent Parizot du 06 septembre 2024.

Le modèle rappellera des souvenirs aux nostalgiques de l'automobile : à l'occasion du Mondial de l'Auto de Paris (14-20 octobre), Renault ressortira la R17, son coupé sportif mythique, en version moderne. Elle ne sera toutefois pas en vente pour l'instant puisqu'il s'agit pour l'heure d'un concept-car. Présentation signée Christophe Bourroux pour RTL.

Креативные индустрии — традиционно одни из самых закрытых. Желающим в них работать сложно понять, с какой стороны в них вообще можно зайти и каким требованиям нужно соответствовать. Как попасть в мир кино или музыки, с чего начать там карьеру?Руководитель направления артистов и репертуара (A&R) «МТС Лейбла», преподаватель Moscow Music School Владимир Кузьмичев начинал свою карьеру как юрист по интеллектуальным собственности, а на первой стажировке занимался регистрацией патентов.Мы часто говорим о том, что нужно уметь вовремя понять и не побояться признать, что занимаешься нелюбимым делом. Владимир смог, а семья и друзья поддержали. Так, начав с хобби и профессионального образования, он начал путь в мир музыки. И теперь за его спиной работа в крупнейших лейблах — он ищет и открывает новых артистов.Как попасть в музыкальную индустрию? Какие навыки нужны? И как научиться слышать себя? Обсуждаем в этом выпуске.Это летний специальный сезон нашего подкаста. Три выпуска для него были сделаны на открытой записи на площадке антиконференции X5 Future Night, которая объединила тысячи профессионалов из разных отраслей и десятки разных форматов.00:00 - вступление01:20 - как Владимир Кузьмичев стал юристом и понял, что это не его06:16 - нужно ли иметь глобальный план на всю жизнь с ответом на вопрос «кем я хочу стать?»07:50 - как попасть в музыкальную индустрию (даже если тебя не взяли с первого раза) — опыт Владимира Кузьмичева14:02 - как закрепиться в музыкальной индустрии и чем занимаются A&R17:27 - как выглядит работа по поиску артистов и треков и как разглядеть перспективного музыканта19:44 - спорим, может ли искусственный интеллект почувствовать «травмы» реальных людей и написать заряженную музыку20:55 - нейросеть представляет себя человеком, пишет трек, а Владимир его оценивает22:33 - какие варианты развития есть внутри музыкальной индустрии, и почему всех A&R-специалистов в России можно было бы уместить в один вагон29:01 - какая рутина есть внутри A&R32:25 - как попасть в музыкальную индустрию сейчас?43:42 - как ответить себе на вопрос «Чем ты хочешь заниматься?»35:34 - сколько треков в день слушает Владимир Кузьмичев—Ведущие: Маруся Миронова и Глеб СилкоПродюсер: Глеб Силко

In this episode I go through the next 3 rounds and the potential teams and players to look at targeting in R17! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Payments Podium! In this episode, we dive into the new NACHA rules, focusing on credit push fraud and risk management in the evolving electronic payments world. Our special guests, Jordan Bennett and Devon Marsh from NACHA, share their expertise on these critical changes and how they impact financial institutions and the industry. Learn about the nine new rules, the importance of timely compliance, and practical steps for implementation. We discuss everything from risk management frameworks to new return reason codes like R17 and R06. Whether you're a financial professional or just curious about the world of payments, this episode is packed with valuable insights. For more information on the new rules, visit nacha.org/newrules. Connect with our guests on LinkedIn: Jordan Bennett and Devon Marsh.

This year, South Africa is set to become the tenth-largest solar market in the world. In 2023 R17.5 Billion rands of solar panels were imported into this country. In the latest episode of The Current podcast series, we're talking all things solar PV – from market dynamics to how much it costs and whether it makes commercial sense for you to install it for your business or your home. Listen to Investec's Melanie Humphries, Bernard Geldenhuys, and SAPVIA's De Wet Taljaard, as they enlighten us on SA's solar boom. 00:00: Intro 01:56: Meet the guests 02:24: Overview of solar in SA and its domination 03:36: 86% of all solar is residential or rooftop 04:24: Large-scale solar PV projects 05:03: SA in comparison to other country's solar adoption 06:20: The impact of residential solar's boom on the national grid 07:16: The cost implications of installing solar 09:46: Homeowners installing solar for commercial value 11:55: Equitable access to solar power 13:55: Local manufacturing of solar lagging behind 14:49: REIPP Programme attracting substantial FDI 15:19: Feeding excess energy back into the grid 17:32: Transmission is the biggest hurdle for large-scale solar 18:50: What is wheeling and why is it important for IPPs? 21:19: Top considerations when installing rooftop solar 22:28: Maintenance of solar equipment 23:10: Loadshedding and solar's relationship is changing 24:17: SMMEs benefit from solar 25:24: What are the risks to SA's solar boom? 28:28 Closing comments and some practical advice Investec's Sustainable Solutions in solar · Investec Focus Radio SA

As the crucial 29 May elections draw near, financial markets are seemingly wagering on the ANC losing its majority and forming a coalition with right-of-centre minor parties. Dawie Roodt, an economist from the Efficient Group, shared with Biznews that the financial markets are already factoring in a favourable outcome, as evidenced by the robust performance of the JSE, bond markets and Rand. Roodt anticipates a potential surge of 20-30% for the JSE, a 200 bips gain for the bond market, and the Rand strengthening to R17 to the US dollar, should the election yield a ‘good outcome'. This scenario involves the ANC's support falling to around 45% and the formation of a government with political parties ‘slightly to the right' of the ANC, who would hold Cabinet positions or the role of Speaker. However, Roodt cautions that the new government will face significant economic challenges, including local authorities that are in disarray and will likely request additional funds from the Minister of Finance, the state-owned enterprises that “have been run into the ground” and the national accounts have become unsustainable with debt levels ranging between 75% and 90% of GDP.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a leading supplier of products, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. South African imports of solar panels, lithium-ion batteries and inverters climbed to a record $3.8-billion last year, or about R70-billion, while imports of wind turbines began to recover following a two-year lull, analysis compiled by Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies senior economist Gaylor Montmasson-Clair shows. Imports in 2023 were double the $1.7-billion of 2022 and lifted the overall value of the three energy components imported over the ten years from 2014 to 2023 to above $10-billion. The analysis points to an extremely strong rise in solar-panel imports last year, which was also the country's worst-ever year for loadshedding. He describes panel imports of $947-million, or R17.5-billion, as "mind boggling", while noting that imports peaked in the second quarter at $450-million. Over the full year, about 5 GW worth of panels were imported, up from 1.3 GW in 2022. Montmasson-Clair, who is also facilitator of the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM), a multistakeholder initiative aimed at stimulating industrialisation around South Africa's renewables and battery storage investments, believes South Africa should be considering its localisation options more seriously while recognising that some of the demand may have been stimulated by the National Treasury's tax incentive. He reports that SAREM is considering various localisation drivers that boil down to ensuring that public demand from the large-scale renewables procurement programme and the roll-out of solar at public facilities play an anchoring role by supporting localisation. "Any public support should come with a degree of localisation," he argues. For manufacturers to be competitive across markets, including the private market, Montmasson-Clair says various supply-side support measures will be required, including investment incentives and possibly even carefully calibrated tariffs on a limited set of products. There is also a need to sort out the broader ecosystem, particularly through skills development, improved testing and certification facilities and a mandatory quality standard to fight sub-standard imports. The value of lithium-ion battery imports, meanwhile, reached $1.75-billion last year, more than double the $730-million recorded in the prior year. "At an average of $139/kWh, that's about 12.5 GWh, or about 3.8 GW to 5.0 GW of capacity." As with solar, the demand was underpinned primarily by loadshedding, but it also coincided with a strong rise in the registration of distributed plants with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa. Montmasson-Clair says local manufacturing, based on imported cells, is booming and should be actively supported to grow domestic production and to phase out the import of battery packs. "Once the market has consolidated or stabilised, we will have a better idea whether cell manufacturing is viable for this market segment." Meanwhile, South Africa's wind industry started importing again in 2023, following two years of inactivity, with demand underpinned by projects procured under the much-delayed Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, alongside wind farms being built on the back of corporate power purchase agreements. Wind turbines with a combined value of $200-million were imported, mostly in the fourth quarter of last year. Montmasson-Clair argues that industrial development in the wind sector requires constant demand, which has been absent even after the resumption of public procurement in 2020 and dampened further by the fact that none of the wind projects that bid for a 3 200 MW public-auction allocation progressed to preferred bidder status. This, after Eskom claimed that there was no remaining grid-connection capacity in the Eastern, Northern and Western Cape provinces, where the country's best wind resources are ...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a leading supplier of products, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. South African imports of solar panels, lithium-ion batteries and inverters climbed to a record $3.8-billion last year, or about R70-billion, while imports of wind turbines began to recover following a two-year lull, analysis compiled by Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies senior economist Gaylor Montmasson-Clair shows. Imports in 2023 were double the $1.7-billion of 2022 and lifted the overall value of the three energy components imported over the ten years from 2014 to 2023 to above $10-billion. The analysis points to an extremely strong rise in solar-panel imports last year, which was also the country's worst-ever year for loadshedding. He describes panel imports of $947-million, or R17.5-billion, as "mind boggling", while noting that imports peaked in the second quarter at $450-million. Over the full year, about 5 GW worth of panels were imported, up from 1.3 GW in 2022. Montmasson-Clair, who is also facilitator of the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM), a multistakeholder initiative aimed at stimulating industrialisation around South Africa's renewables and battery storage investments, believes South Africa should be considering its localisation options more seriously while recognising that some of the demand may have been stimulated by the National Treasury's tax incentive. He reports that SAREM is considering various localisation drivers that boil down to ensuring that public demand from the large-scale renewables procurement programme and the roll-out of solar at public facilities play an anchoring role by supporting localisation. "Any public support should come with a degree of localisation," he argues. For manufacturers to be competitive across markets, including the private market, Montmasson-Clair says various supply-side support measures will be required, including investment incentives and possibly even carefully calibrated tariffs on a limited set of products. There is also a need to sort out the broader ecosystem, particularly through skills development, improved testing and certification facilities and a mandatory quality standard to fight sub-standard imports. The value of lithium-ion battery imports, meanwhile, reached $1.75-billion last year, more than double the $730-million recorded in the prior year. "At an average of $139/kWh, that's about 12.5 GWh, or about 3.8 GW to 5.0 GW of capacity." As with solar, the demand was underpinned primarily by loadshedding, but it also coincided with a strong rise in the registration of distributed plants with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa. Montmasson-Clair says local manufacturing, based on imported cells, is booming and should be actively supported to grow domestic production and to phase out the import of battery packs. "Once the market has consolidated or stabilised, we will have a better idea whether cell manufacturing is viable for this market segment." Meanwhile, South Africa's wind industry started importing again in 2023, following two years of inactivity, with demand underpinned by projects procured under the much-delayed Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, alongside wind farms being built on the back of corporate power purchase agreements. Wind turbines with a combined value of $200-million were imported, mostly in the fourth quarter of last year. Montmasson-Clair argues that industrial development in the wind sector requires constant demand, which has been absent even after the resumption of public procurement in 2020 and dampened further by the fact that none of the wind projects that bid for a 3 200 MW public-auction allocation progressed to preferred bidder status. This, after Eskom claimed that there was no remaining grid-connection capacity in the Eastern, Northern and Western Cape provinces, where the country's best wind resources are ...

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) reports that it registered a further 98 generation facilities - with a combined capacity of 908 MW and an investment value of R17.3-billion - during the second quarter of its 2023/24 financial year. These registrations, which took place from July to September, raise to 1 185 the total number of generation facilities registered since 2018. However, the pace of registrations accelerated markedly after a 2021 reform was made to Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act, lifting the licence-exemption cap from 1 MW to 100 MW. That cap was subsequently removed entirely to accelerate investment as power disruptions intensified. In August, the National Energy Crisis Committee reported that, since the implementation of the regulatory changes, the pipeline of private sector generation projects had increased to over 100 projects representing more than 10 000 MW of capacity. Projects registered with Nersa to date, meanwhile, have a combined capacity of 5 785 MW and an investment value of R111-billion and exclude the thousands of smaller installations that have been implemented by households and businesses in response to loadshedding. Eskom has estimated that some 4 400 MW of behind-the-meter generation was installed between July 2022 and July 2023, mostly in the form of rooftop solar. Nersa reports that 92 of the registrations during the second quarter were for solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities, which make up 71% of the capacity registered. The balance comprises two solar PV projects with battery energy storage systems, two co-generators and two wind projects. Regulator Member responsible for Electricity Regulation Nhlanhla Gumede commended the uptake in registrations, which he indicated had been processed by Nersa within an average of five working days. However, he recommended that future registration applications for generation facilities of variable energy sources be coupled with battery storage. Sixty-eight of the generation facilities registered during the period are connected to the Eskom network and have a total capacity of 785 MW and an associated investment value of R14.8-billion. A total of 30 generation facilities are connected to the municipal distribution network, with a capacity of 27 MW and investment value of R2.5-billion. The three provinces with the highest number of new registered generation facilities in the second quarter were Gauteng (19 projects for 11 MW), Western Cape (17 projects for 119 MW) and KwaZulu-Natal (15 projects for 7 MW). The top three provinces by capacity were the Free State (251 MW across 7 projects), North West (192 MW across 11 projects) and the Western Cape. The 11 projects registered in the North West province during the period carried the highest investment value, at R5.8-billion. The average investment cost for the second quarter of the 2023/24 financial year is R19 000/kW, Nersa states.

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) reports that it registered a further 98 generation facilities - with a combined capacity of 908 MW and an investment value of R17.3-billion - during the second quarter of its 2023/24 financial year. These registrations, which took place from July to September, raise to 1 185 the total number of generation facilities registered since 2018. However, the pace of registrations accelerated markedly after a 2021 reform was made to Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act, lifting the licence-exemption cap from 1 MW to 100 MW. That cap was subsequently removed entirely to accelerate investment as power disruptions intensified. In August, the National Energy Crisis Committee reported that, since the implementation of the regulatory changes, the pipeline of private sector generation projects had increased to over 100 projects representing more than 10 000 MW of capacity. Projects registered with Nersa to date, meanwhile, have a combined capacity of 5 785 MW and an investment value of R111-billion and exclude the thousands of smaller installations that have been implemented by households and businesses in response to loadshedding. Eskom has estimated that some 4 400 MW of behind-the-meter generation was installed between July 2022 and July 2023, mostly in the form of rooftop solar. Nersa reports that 92 of the registrations during the second quarter were for solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities, which make up 71% of the capacity registered. The balance comprises two solar PV projects with battery energy storage systems, two co-generators and two wind projects. Regulator Member responsible for Electricity Regulation Nhlanhla Gumede commended the uptake in registrations, which he indicated had been processed by Nersa within an average of five working days. However, he recommended that future registration applications for generation facilities of variable energy sources be coupled with battery storage. Sixty-eight of the generation facilities registered during the period are connected to the Eskom network and have a total capacity of 785 MW and an associated investment value of R14.8-billion. A total of 30 generation facilities are connected to the municipal distribution network, with a capacity of 27 MW and investment value of R2.5-billion. The three provinces with the highest number of new registered generation facilities in the second quarter were Gauteng (19 projects for 11 MW), Western Cape (17 projects for 119 MW) and KwaZulu-Natal (15 projects for 7 MW). The top three provinces by capacity were the Free State (251 MW across 7 projects), North West (192 MW across 11 projects) and the Western Cape. The 11 projects registered in the North West province during the period carried the highest investment value, at R5.8-billion. The average investment cost for the second quarter of the 2023/24 financial year is R19 000/kW, Nersa states.

Kwazulu-Natal, a province that has weathered numerous crises, faces yet another challenge. Emerging from the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the July 2021 riots, which resulted in an estimated R50 billion in damages, and the 2022 floods causing around R17 billion in infrastructure damage, the province now grapples with paralysis at Durban and Richards Bay ports. This has led to significant road congestion, with no immediate solution in sight. Transnet estimates that clearing the backlog in Durban could take until February or March 2024. Further compounding the province's woes, the northern section of Durban's golden mile coastal strip remains unsafe due to E.coli, impacting the tourism industry. In an interview with Biznews, Paul Ngema, Chairperson of the Kwazulu-Natal Business Chamber Council (KBCC) and President of the National African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NAFCOC), expressed concern that the port backlog could result in businesses missing out on the Christmas rush. Ngema also highlighted the deteriorating railway system and its impact on small and medium businesses that heavily rely on this cheaper mode of transport. He warned that the port crisis and resulting road congestion could deter South Africans from visiting KZN beaches for Christmas, potentially leading to a bleak holiday season for the province.

Organised crime syndicates are bleeding South Africa's national economy of R155 billion a year - and that number is “significantly understated”. That is according to Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow Minister of Finance, Dr Dion George. He gives this breakdown: Construction mafia - R17 billion; Infrastructure vandalism and arson - R47 billion; ESKOM's organised crime networks R12 billion; Kidnapping and extortion syndicates - R146 million; Illicit economy, specifically drugs and guns - R13.6 billion; Wildlife syndicates - R1.2 billion; Illegal mining networks (Zama Zamas) - R14 billion; Tender corruption - R30 billion; and the Tobacco and cigarettes Mafia - R20 billion.” He calls on Government to make organised crime a priority - and to stop wasting resources on “never-ending bailouts to basically bankrupt entities”.  Dr George says South Africa is only on its knees because the government has chosen the wrong economic policies.

On a YUGE episode, we go through it all:

Stepdad has succumbed to the dreaded pangolin's kiss and is demonstrating the strangest side effects seen to date. Also, R17 recaps, R18 previews, and the all-important This Week in C-Grade Toowoomba Touch brought to you by the Big Diesel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Cord & Flats as they dive into the big talking points from this Tuesday's Round 18 TLT. We also answer all your questions and review our Teams performance in R17. Best of luck to everyone this weekend!

Durante muchos años la mayor parte de los modelos de Renault tenían como nombre un simple número. Pero, a diferencia de otras marcas, en las que el número era una pista, en Renault el número despista. Así que vamos a repasar todos… del R3 al R900, ¿o no sabías que hubo un R900, una especie de monovolumen con motor V8? ¡Hoy nos vamos a divertir! Porque es cierto que en otras marcas la numeración te da una pista. Pongamos por ejemplo BMW. Sabes que el primer número te da una referencia de la categoría del coche, un serie 3 es más que un serie 1 y menos que un serie 5. Además, los impares son 4 puertas laterales y los pares 2. Y las dos siguientes cifras te orientan sobre la cilindrada… todo muy organizadito y muy alemán… algo parecido hace, por ejemplo, Mercedes-Benz. Pues en Renault resulta que un R15 es un deportivo y que un R16 es una berlina media. Un R10 es un tres volúmenes, pero el R9 es también 3 volúmenes, como el R12… pero en cambio el R11 es dos volúmenes… ¡Vaya lio! ¿O no? Pues la verdad es que no. Cierto que no hay una lógica “global” pero por el conocimiento de la marca y de los modelos lo cierto es que la inmensa mayoría de los casos nadie tiene ningún problema para saber de qué coche hablamos. Hay excepciones, como el R3 que no todo el mundo conoce, o el R7 que no lo hubo en todos los países, o los R15, R15 y R17 no muy conocidos en España. Y la estrella del video de hoy, el R900. Y empezamos, por orden ascendente y con una advertencia: NO hemos tenido en cuenta los coches de competición sobre todo los F1. ¡Vamos allá! R3 (1961), R4 (1961), R5 (1972), R6 (1968), R7 (1974), R8 (1962), R9 (1981), R10 (1965), R11 (1981), R12 (1969), ¿R12+1?, R14 (1976), R15 (1971), R16 (1965), R17 (1971), R18 (1978), R19 (1988), R20 (1975), R21 (1986), R25 (1983), R30 (1975) y R900 (1959) Conclusión. ¿Me he olvidado de alguno? Espero vuestros comentarios . Y en un próximo vídeo, los F1. Coche del día. Cualquiera me valdría. Confieso que cuando vi los primeros dibujos, ni siquiera eran fotos, de los R20 y R30 me enamoré de ese coche. Pero no, el coche del día es el R16, un coche que cuando le vi me pareció un R6 “grandote” y que cuando lo probé me enamoró… un TX tendría, sin duda, en mi garaje.

Eskom CFO Calib Cassim told lawmakers on Tuesday that the State-owned utility had spent R18-billion on diesel for its current financial year-to-date, which began in April last year, and that it would probably need to spend another R4-billion until the end of March, raising the overall diesel spend for the year to R22-billion. The utility was continuing to operate its diesel-fuelled open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) despite having announced in November that it was no longer in a financial position to do so. That said, outgoing CEO André de Ruyter told the Standing Committee on Public Accounts that, had it not been for its financial constraints, Eskom would have burnt more diesel to offset the coal fleet's poor performance and limit loadshedding stages. However, chairperson Mpho Makwana revealed that an agreement had been reached with the National Energy Crisis Committee on January 23 regarding a diesel funding model, the details of which were being finalised. “While this diesel funding model is being put in place, we are funding the diesel from internal savings and reallocations from other priorities,” De Ruyter told the committee members. “So, our CFO has had to do some very nifty footwork in order to release the cash from other sources to enable us to buy as much diesel as we can responsibly procure. [But] of course there's a limit . . . and, therefore, we have had to conserve our reserves to responsible levels.” He also provided insight into some of the initiatives that Eskom had proposed to government to assist it in buying diesel as cost-effectively as possible. One of these included an application to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy for a wholesale licence to enable it to purchase diesel at the level of the Basic Fuel Price, which could have yielded billions in savings. The application had been rejected, however, while the South African Revenue Service had, to date, rebuffed its attempts to secure tax rebates to which Eskom felt it was entitled. Cassim said expenditure on diesel to operate its OCGTs at Ankerlig and Gourikwa had already exceeded the budget for the year by more than R10-billion and he indicated that there were also likely to be further shortfalls in 2023/24 and 2024/25. Eskom had applied to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) for revenue to operate its OCGT plants at a load factor of 12% for the coming two financial years, which would have translated to allowable revenue of about R17-billion a year for diesel alone. In approving the recent hikes of 18.65% for 2023/24 and 12.74% for 2024/25, Nersa said Eskom should operate the plants at a load factor of 6%, which would translate to a diesel budget of about R8.5-billion for the coming two financial years. Cassim said the diesel budget shortfall would, thus, probably be about R16-billion over the coming two financial years, depending on actual oil prices, final diesel volumes and coal-fleet performance. De Ruyter refused to be drawn on the debate as to whether Eskom should forgo the tariff increase in light of cost-of-living pressures; one that had intensified in light of various legal actions against the hikes and President Cyril Ramaphosa's call for the board to find ways to limit the increases. “I won't comment on cost-reflective tariffs – that being a particularly sensitive and litigious topic at this point in time – save to say that there are essentially two sources of enabling Eskom to recover its costs: either from those who consume electricity or from the taxpayer by way of transfers from the National Treasury. “And this is a choice that those who take these decisions need to make,” he said.

Heavy-duty equipment multinational Barloworld says it will unbundle and separately list Zeda, the group's integrated vehicle mobility solutions provider. Zeda trades under the Avis and Budget brands in South Africa, as well as ten other sub-Saharan African countries. The unbundling will be implemented by way of listing 189-million ordinary Zeda shares on the main board of the JSE, effective December 13, as well as a pro rata distribution in specie of such JSE-listed Zeda distribution shares for no consideration to holders of Barloworld ordinary shares entitled to receive this distribution on December 19. Moreover, the unbundling will be implemented on the basis that Barloworld ordinary shareholders recorded on the Barloworld share register at 17:00 on December 15 will receive one Zeda distribution share for every one Barloworld ordinary share held. Barloworld explains the pro rata distribution in specie of the Zeda distribution shares will be paid from sources other than 'contributed tax capital' as contemplated in the Income Tax Act and shall accordingly constitute a 'dividend' for purposes of the Income Tax Act. RATIONALE Barloworld is actively pivoting its portfolio towards defensive, relatively asset-light and cash generative industrial sectors, based on a business-to-business operating model. To this end, Barloworld has divested several businesses identified as noncore to its strategic ambition. The board believes that, to separate the business of Zeda through an unbundling will enable Zeda to execute on its own strategy and allow it to operate in a more focused and efficient manner, unshackled by the umbrella of Barloworld's capital allocation framework. Additionally, the Barloworld board says Zeda will benefit from a fully dedicated executive management team and its own dedicated board of directors. It is expected that the unbundling of Zeda will position it as a distinct sub-Saharan Africa-focused integrated mobility solutions providers and provide enhanced governance, cost of capital and ability to drive a market-leading return profile. For Barloworld, the unbundling marks the completion of its noncore divestiture programme, allows the group to focus on its consumer industries and industrial equipment pillars, and delivers deleveraging of the balance sheet. FINANCIAL RESULTS Barloworld has posted an increase of 48.2% in headline earnings a share to R17.71 for the year ended September 30, from R11.95 (restated) in the prior financial year. Basic earnings per share (EPS) amounted to R10.51 in the reporting year, compared with basic EPS of R13.90 (restated) posted in the prior year. The group's operating profit from core trading activities increased by 12.8% in the year under review to R3.7-billion, from R3.2-billion in the prior year. Barloworld has declared an ordinary final dividend of 295c apiece for the second half of the year, bringing the total dividend to 460c apiece, and a special dividend of 550c apiece. This compares with total ordinary and special dividends of 437c and R13.50 declared in the prior year, respectively. CEO Dominic Sewala says the group delivered improved results despite some key challenges in the prevailing operating environment, He anticipates headwinds in the short term resulting from the effects of high inflation; however, the Equipment Southern Africa business is well positioned to achieve sustainable growth in the long term, driven by the need for infrastructure development and increased mining activity to support the energy transition to zero-carbon emissions. Barloworld says it continues to manage exposures and risks to its Equipment Eurasia business including a strong focus on addressing the needs of employees through a very uncertain and challenging period, while remaining agile and adaptable to ensure compliance with an ever-changing regulatory environment. Sewala confirms the company has started with cost-reducing measures and right-sizing working capital, in line with some expect...

The board of the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has announced that four of the five tenders it cancelled in June have been awarded this week, following an evaluation process by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). The R3.4-billion Mtentu Bridge project, on the N2 Wild Coast road, was awarded to the CCCC Mecsa joint venture (JV); the R1-billion rehabilitation of the R56 Matatiele rehabilitation project, in the Eastern Cape, was awarded to Down Touch Investments; the R1.8-billion N3 Ashburton Interchange, in KwaZulu-Natal, was awarded to the Base Major/CSCEC JV; and the EB Cloete interchange improvements project, in KwaZulu-Natal, valued at R4.3-billion, was also awarded to Base Major/CSCEC JV. In light of the recent announcement by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana that e-tolls would be scrapped, a decision on the open road tolling tender (TCH Operator) has been put on hold pending clarity on key issues. “We are . . . deeply grateful to the industry for their patience in resubmitting tenders for these contracts and waiting for the adjudication process to be concluded,” Sanral chairperson Themba Mhambi said. When the contracts were cancelled, there was a concern by the executive on the impact that it would have on the country's infrastructure development agenda, he said. The Sanral board instructed management to readvertise and award the R17.47-billion in tenders the board cancelled earlier in May, citing “material irregularities” within four months. “We . . . undertook to both President Cyril Ramaphosa and Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula that we would do everything possible to ensure we mitigate the impact on the construction industry and the economy. And that meant re-advertising, evaluating and awarding the tenders within four months after they were cancelled. We . . . learnt valuable lessons about how to handle tenders with speed to keep the country's economic development on the boil,” Mhambi said. Sanral said it would continue to prioritise infrastructure development in driving South Africa's economic recovery. While this process has delayed the implementation of critical infrastructure upgrades, Sanral said that it was balanced against healthy governance and the need to ensure compliance with all relevant procurement and legal prescripts when tenders are awarded.

On Wednesday, the price of unleaded petrol (both 93 and 95), will increase by 51c a litre, while diesel will rise by R1.43 a litre. This will push the Gauteng price of diesel to R25.49 a litre - a new record high. A year ago, Gauteng's diesel price stood at around R17.20 per litre.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode: ‘WhatsApp Cops' are real and they're keeping an eye on Wall Street's banks and investors Volvo's upcoming EX90 electric SUV will launch with radar on the inside so you don't kill babies Other news: Netflix's new documentary The Playlist shows how Spotify climbed to the top of the audio streaming world Oppo Reno 8, 8 Pro 5G phones launch in South Africa, starting at R17,000 Tech Byte airs daily from Monday to Friday. For the latest tech news, be sure to follow Stuff on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or head on over to our website.

Interest rates are back at pre-pandemic levels after the Reserve Bank hiked rates by 75 basis points, for a second meeting in a row. Three members of the monetary policy committee voted in favour of the 75 basis point hike, while two wanted a 100 basis point increase. The move brings the repo rate to 6.25%, and the prime rate to 9.75%. On a new home loan of R2-million, this hikes the monthly instalment by more than R970. Since November last year, monthly payments on a R2-million home loan are almost R3 400 more expensive due to a raft of rate hikes. The latest rate hike was in line with economists' expectations, and brings interest rates back to a level last seen in January 2020, before the Reserve Bank made steep cuts to bolster an economy in lockdown. On Thursday, Governor of the SA Reserve Bank, Lesetja Kganyago, said risks to the inflation outlook are assessed to the upside. "While global producer price and food inflation have eased, Russia's war in the Ukraine continues, with adverse effects on global prices. Oil prices increased strongly from the start of the war, to around US$130 per barrel, and may rise again from today's level as stresses in energy markets intensify. Electricity and other administered prices continue to present clear medium-term risks." While the rate hikes will heap more pain on a distressed South African economy, the bank is under pressure to keep up with jumbo interest rate hikes in other countries, especially in the US, where rates were hiked by 75 basis points on Wednesday. Global central banks are scrambling to hike interest rates amid an inflation shock, triggered by the invasion of Ukraine along with supply chain shocks and a labour shortage. South Africa cannot afford to be left behind when it comes to rate hikes, otherwise the rand and local assets like bonds will lose their appeal to foreign investors, who are on the hunt for good returns. Foreign inflows are crucial to keep the rand stable. A stable rand is key to inflation, as South Africa imports almost all its oil, which is priced in dollars. The rand is currently taking a lot of strain as the dollar is bolstered by aggressive US rate hikes. It is currently close to R17.80/$, after starting the year below R16. The Reserve Bank also needs to send a clear signal that it wants to tame inflation. There is still one more monetary policy committee meeting left, in November. Economists expect another rate hike – even though inflation may have peaked. In August, consumer inflation cooled slightly, to 7.6% from 7.8% in July, thanks mostly to lower fuel prices. Some economists forecast another hike in January, with Jeff Schultz, senior economist at BNP Paribas South Africa, expecting that the repo rate will peak at 7.00% in January 2023.

The affordability of the 32% tariff hike being sought by Eskom for implementation on April 1 next year came under intense scrutiny on the last day of National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) public hearings. The regulator, which adjudicated the first year of the three-year fifth multiyear price determination (MYPD5) in January, when it approved a 9.61% increase for the 2023 financial year against an Eskom request for 20.5%, expects to decide for the 2024 and 2025 financial years by November 7. The utility has applied for allowable revenue of R351-billion for 2024 and R382-billion for 2025, inclusive of the R15-billion a year arising from a court order stipulating that the utility be allowed to recover, over five financial years, the full R69-billion equity injection Nersa incorrectly deducted from its MYPD4 allowable revenue. If granted, the standard Eskom tariff would rise to 172.6c/kWh on April 1, or by more than 32%. Eskom argues that even after such a steep hike, the tariff would remain below a cost-reflective level, which it calculates to be 185.7c/kWh. TERRIBLE INJUSTICE The utility's request was strongly opposed by all of the presenters on the third and final day of the hearings, including Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, who urged Nersa to unequivocally reject the request and instead grant no increase above the current inflation rate. Warning that South Africans were being confronted with a cost-of-living crisis, Hill-Lewis argued that it would be a “terrible injustice” to expect electricity consumers to pay for previous mismanagement and corruption at the utility, particularly in the context of intensifying load-shedding. He noted, too, that all of the 70 bidders that responded to the city's recent tender to procure an initial 200 MW of renewable electricity had been able to beat even Eskom's lowest prevailing tariff. City of Johannesburg MMC Michael Sun added that the proposed tariff hike would have a “devastating impact” on the citizens of Johannesburg, erode business confidence and disrupt economic recovery. Sun added that City Power was of the view that Eskom could reduce its proposed revenue by R55-billion, for each of the years covered by the application, reducing the increase to a maximum of 18.4% for the 2024 financial year. However, Mogale City mayor Tyron Gray also called for an inflation-linked increase, indicating that ongoing load-shedding was resulting in water disruptions in the high-lying Gauteng city and that a price hike would exacerbate the problem, owing to the nature of the water/power cross subsidies in place. DISALLOW DIESEL REQUEST Energy Intensive Users Group (EIUG) CEO Fanele Mondi warned that a 32% increase would have a significant negative impact on its mining and heavy-industrial members, given that electricity represented up to 40% of their costs. Mondi made specific recommendations with regard to how Nersa should treat various cost components in Eskom's application, including the utility request for R16.9-billion next year and R17.7-billion in the 2025 financial year to operate its diesel-fuelled power plants. The increase outlined by Eskom is based on deploying the plants at a load factor of 12%, rather than 5%, to offset the fall in the coal and nuclear fleet's energy availability factor to 59% from 62%. “This represents a staggering R11.8-billion and R12.41-billion [additional cost for diesel] for the respective years,” he noted. The EIUG requested Nersa to disallow the request for higher diesel volumes, which made up 60% of the increase, and instead base any increased allowance on real diesel price increases. “Nersa should get a better explanation for the seemingly excessive volume increase. “If it is due to poor generation performance, rather consider investing more money in maintenance and demand-side-management incentives. “Such a reallocation will be a more sustainable investment financially with an opportunity to decrease the costs in the medium term,” Mondi argue...

The affordability of the 32% tariff hike being sought by Eskom for implementation on April 1 next year came under intense scrutiny on the last day of National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) public hearings. The regulator, which adjudicated the first year of the three-year fifth multiyear price determination (MYPD5) in January, when it approved a 9.61% increase for the 2023 financial year against an Eskom request for 20.5%, expects to decide for the 2024 and 2025 financial years by November 7. The utility has applied for allowable revenue of R351-billion for 2024 and R382-billion for 2025, inclusive of the R15-billion a year arising from a court order stipulating that the utility be allowed to recover, over five financial years, the full R69-billion equity injection Nersa incorrectly deducted from its MYPD4 allowable revenue. If granted, the standard Eskom tariff would rise to 172.6c/kWh on April 1, or by more than 32%. Eskom argues that even after such a steep hike, the tariff would remain below a cost-reflective level, which it calculates to be 185.7c/kWh. TERRIBLE INJUSTICE The utility's request was strongly opposed by all of the presenters on the third and final day of the hearings, including Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, who urged Nersa to unequivocally reject the request and instead grant no increase above the current inflation rate. Warning that South Africans were being confronted with a cost-of-living crisis, Hill-Lewis argued that it would be a “terrible injustice” to expect electricity consumers to pay for previous mismanagement and corruption at the utility, particularly in the context of intensifying load-shedding. He noted, too, that all of the 70 bidders that responded to the city's recent tender to procure an initial 200 MW of renewable electricity had been able to beat even Eskom's lowest prevailing tariff. City of Johannesburg MMC Michael Sun added that the proposed tariff hike would have a “devastating impact” on the citizens of Johannesburg, erode business confidence and disrupt economic recovery. Sun added that City Power was of the view that Eskom could reduce its proposed revenue by R55-billion, for each of the years covered by the application, reducing the increase to a maximum of 18.4% for the 2024 financial year. However, Mogale City mayor Tyron Gray also called for an inflation-linked increase, indicating that ongoing load-shedding was resulting in water disruptions in the high-lying Gauteng city and that a price hike would exacerbate the problem, owing to the nature of the water/power cross subsidies in place. DISALLOW DIESEL REQUEST Energy Intensive Users Group (EIUG) CEO Fanele Mondi warned that a 32% increase would have a significant negative impact on its mining and heavy-industrial members, given that electricity represented up to 40% of their costs. Mondi made specific recommendations with regard to how Nersa should treat various cost components in Eskom's application, including the utility request for R16.9-billion next year and R17.7-billion in the 2025 financial year to operate its diesel-fuelled power plants. The increase outlined by Eskom is based on deploying the plants at a load factor of 12%, rather than 5%, to offset the fall in the coal and nuclear fleet's energy availability factor to 59% from 62%. “This represents a staggering R11.8-billion and R12.41-billion [additional cost for diesel] for the respective years,” he noted. The EIUG requested Nersa to disallow the request for higher diesel volumes, which made up 60% of the increase, and instead base any increased allowance on real diesel price increases. “Nersa should get a better explanation for the seemingly excessive volume increase. “If it is due to poor generation performance, rather consider investing more money in maintenance and demand-side-management incentives. “Such a reallocation will be a more sustainable investment financially with an opportunity to decrease the costs in the medium term,” Mondi argue...

Eskom told the regulator on Tuesday that its immediate focus was on returning 14 coal units to service over the coming four days, in an effort to recover 8 012 MW of coal generation so as to ease load-shedding, which was being implemented at Stage 5. Although the National Energy Regulator of South Africa's (Nersa's) hearings are concerned primarily with the State-owned utility's request for a 32% tariff hike, regulatory members had requested an update on load-shedding and its implications for the utility's costs during the first day of hearings on Monday. Members were particularly concerned about Eskom's newly-published energy availability factor (EAF) assumption of 59% for the coming two financial years, which would result in a heavy reliance on the open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs). Eskom is currently assuming that the load factor of the OCGT plants will rise from 5% to 12%, which would trigger a surge in its diesel costs to R16.9-billion in 2023/24 and R17.7-billion in 2024/25. For the year to date, a period that coincides with South Africa's worst-ever load-shedding, Eskom has already spent R7.7-billion on diesel and has been operating the OCGT plants at an average load factor of 14%. On the second day of hearings, Eskom generation executive Eric Shunmagum revealed that the utility was aiming to return eight units, with a combine capacity of 3 990 MW, during the course of Tuesday, September 20. It was targeting three more, representing 1 115 MW, on Wednesday and another three units, with a combined capacity of 1 837 MW, on Friday, so as to ramp down rotational cuts to Stage 2 by the weekend. Shunmagum said the generation unit's operational recovery plan was geared towards improving the EAF from 59% to at least 70% from the end of March 2024 onwards, by when some older stations would have been decommissioned and Kusile completed. Until then, the OCGTs would be used extensively, as had been the case since the start of the current financial year on April 1, when the load factor had dipped below 10% in just a single month (August) and had been as high as 18.8% during June. Questioned about the prudency of using the OCGT plants so extensively, Eskom argued that the cost to the country was “much cheaper when compared to higher levels of load-shedding”. Beyond the immediate return to service plan for the current week, Shunmagum said the recovery plan would focus on the ‘Top 6 priority stations' of Tutuka, Duvha, Majuba, Kusile Matla and Kendal. “All our efforts will be going into those stations as we begin shutting the oldest stations in the next two to three years.” After March 31, the focus would shift to the next set of priority stations of Matimba, Lethabo, Medupi, Kriel and Arnot. “These stations were specifically selected as they are amongst the highest contributors to the unplanned load losses and any improvement at these stations will see a massive change in the EAF,” Shunmagum asserted. Priority would also be given to a successful execution of the steam generator replacement projects at Koeberg Unit 1, following serious difficulties at Unit 2. Koeberg Unit 2 was returned to service in August without the steam generators having been replaced because of a lack of project preparation by Eskom and had since tripped, further intensifying September load-shedding.

Eskom told the regulator on Tuesday that its immediate focus was on returning 14 coal units to service over the coming four days, in an effort to recover 8 012 MW of coal generation so as to ease load-shedding, which was being implemented at Stage 5. Although the National Energy Regulator of South Africa's (Nersa's) hearings are concerned primarily with the State-owned utility's request for a 32% tariff hike, regulatory members had requested an update on load-shedding and its implications for the utility's costs during the first day of hearings on Monday. Members were particularly concerned about Eskom's newly-published energy availability factor (EAF) assumption of 59% for the coming two financial years, which would result in a heavy reliance on the open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs). Eskom is currently assuming that the load factor of the OCGT plants will rise from 5% to 12%, which would trigger a surge in its diesel costs to R16.9-billion in 2023/24 and R17.7-billion in 2024/25. For the year to date, a period that coincides with South Africa's worst-ever load-shedding, Eskom has already spent R7.7-billion on diesel and has been operating the OCGT plants at an average load factor of 14%. On the second day of hearings, Eskom generation executive Eric Shunmagum revealed that the utility was aiming to return eight units, with a combine capacity of 3 990 MW, during the course of Tuesday, September 20. It was targeting three more, representing 1 115 MW, on Wednesday and another three units, with a combined capacity of 1 837 MW, on Friday, so as to ramp down rotational cuts to Stage 2 by the weekend. Shunmagum said the generation unit's operational recovery plan was geared towards improving the EAF from 59% to at least 70% from the end of March 2024 onwards, by when some older stations would have been decommissioned and Kusile completed. Until then, the OCGTs would be used extensively, as had been the case since the start of the current financial year on April 1, when the load factor had dipped below 10% in just a single month (August) and had been as high as 18.8% during June. Questioned about the prudency of using the OCGT plants so extensively, Eskom argued that the cost to the country was “much cheaper when compared to higher levels of load-shedding”. Beyond the immediate return to service plan for the current week, Shunmagum said the recovery plan would focus on the ‘Top 6 priority stations' of Tutuka, Duvha, Majuba, Kusile Matla and Kendal. “All our efforts will be going into those stations as we begin shutting the oldest stations in the next two to three years.” After March 31, the focus would shift to the next set of priority stations of Matimba, Lethabo, Medupi, Kriel and Arnot. “These stations were specifically selected as they are amongst the highest contributors to the unplanned load losses and any improvement at these stations will see a massive change in the EAF,” Shunmagum asserted. Priority would also be given to a successful execution of the steam generator replacement projects at Koeberg Unit 1, following serious difficulties at Unit 2. Koeberg Unit 2 was returned to service in August without the steam generators having been replaced because of a lack of project preparation by Eskom and had since tripped, further intensifying September load-shedding.

While most of the BizNews team's focus was on its fourth conference (BNC#$) in the Drakensberg last week, the rest of the world was absorbing sobering news about the global economy - with the oil price losing 6% and stock markets falling sharply. In this episode of the BizNews Business Briefing we take a look at the big losers, including the Rand which fell 59c against the US Dollar to R17.30. Also in this episode, BNC's two time golf champion shares his perspectives on the Spring 2022 event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to the latest data from the Central Energy Fund, the price of 95 unleaded petrol is expected to fall by around R2.35 a litre on Wednesday. The price of 93 petrol could drop by around R2.18 a litre. Diesel looks set to be reduced by between 77c and 87c a litre. The price of illuminating paraffin is also on track to fall by 82c a litre. The fuel prices are usually adjusted on the first Wednesday of a month and determined by the price of oil and the rand-dollar exchange rate. The Automobile Association (AA) says the price for 95 fuel in Gauteng looks set to drop from its current R25.42/l to R23.07/l. "This is cheaper than the June price of R24.17/l but still significantly higher than R21.84/l May pricing. It is also way off the January pricing of R19.61/l. Nevertheless, any decrease to fuel prices is good news," notes the AA. After hitting a high of $123 a barrel in March, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, oil prices slumped to $92 in August amid concerns about the weak state of the world economy and the possibility about a new nuclear deal between Iran and the West. A deal would mean that Iran's crude output of 2.5-million barrels per day would no longer be under international sanctions and help relieve supply constraints that have been pushing up prices. On Friday, Brent crude oil was trading around $95 a barrel. Meanwhile, the rand, which started August at around R16.60/$, has since crashed through R17.30 on Friday amid expectations that the US will keep interest rates higher for longer. "Although we are expecting fuel to be cheaper in September, we remain concerned about the overall high prices which impact on all consumers. The price hikes in June and July will continue to impact the economy, and on the financial situation of all South Africans. A sustainable solution to mitigating rising fuel costs is still necessary and until that solution is found, citizens will be at the mercy of fuel price hikes," said the AA. It wants government to review the fuel price urgently, but doesn't believe scrapping the General Fuel Levy is the solution. "We note the calls by those who say this is a way of reducing the fuel price but in our view this will not solve the problem; it will simply force government to find alternative ways to collect the revenue generated by this tax. Instead, the structure and composition of the fuel price must be considered, along with a deeper interrogation of how government currently allocates its funds," says the AA.

According to the latest data from the Central Energy Fund, the price of 95 unleaded petrol is expected to fall by around R2.28 a litre in the first week of September. The price of 93 petrol could drop by around R2.12 a litre. Diesel could be reduced by more than a rand a litre. The price of illuminating paraffin is also on track to fall by just over a rand a litre. The fuel prices are usually adjusted on the first Wednesday of a month, and determined by the price of oil and the rand-dollar exchange rate. Earlier this month, petrol looked set for a R2.60 cut next week, while diesel was also due for a decrease of more than R2. However, the outlook changed after the oil price recovered from lows reached earlier this month, and the rand also lost ground. After hitting a high of $123 a barrel in March, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, oil prices slumped to $92 earlier this month amid concerns about the weak state of the world economy and the possibility about a new nuclear deal between Iran and the West. A deal would mean that Iran's crude output of 2.5-million barrels per day would no longer be under international sanctions and help relieve supply constraints that have been pushing up prices. But on Monday, Brent crude oil was back above $100 per barrel after Saudi Arabia, the largest producer in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), warned about possible production cuts. Meanwhile, the rand, which started the month at around R16.60/$, has since crashed through R17. It was trading at around R16.92 on Monday. Earlier the day, the US dollar surged to a 20-year high against a basket of currencies after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated that interest rates would be kept higher for longer to bring down inflation in the US. Markets are now pricing in a 75-basis-point rate hike in the US in September.

No me digáis que soy malo por llamar al Renault 14 el “coche pera”… Porque fue una idea, mala idea, de la propia Renault. Muchas cosas salieron mal para que este coche, sucesor del R12 y mucho mejor que él, no triunfase… y para que nunca viese la luz su versión coupé. No nació para competir con el Volkswagen Golf, sino con la idea de superarlo. Ahí es nada. Pero esa era la meta del director de Renault, Bernard Hanon quien no escatimó recursos. Renault en los años 70. La gama de Renault en 1970 gozaba de un gran éxito, pero excepción hecha del Renault 5, nacido en 1972, se había quedado anticuada. Hablamos de los R4, R6, R16 y del R12 y sus derivados deportivos, los R15 y R17, sin olvidar que al R8 llegó hasta el 71 en Francia y 1976 en España y México. En el segmento medio, el de mayores ventas, el R12 ya era un dinosaurio, aunque se vendía bien y tenía mucho prestigio… y tuvo algunas segundas vidas como Dacia y en mercado de América de sur. ¡Más madera! Había que pararle los pies, mejor dicho, las ruedas, al VW Golf y a todo lo se le venía y desde Renault se pusieron en marcha. Hanon pidió a Robert Broyer, diseñador del R12, que diseñase su sustituto, pero pensando en el Golf, es decir, con dos volúmenes. Y como Renault tenía prisa hizo algo hoy en día muy frecuente, pero que no lo era tanto en esos años: Llegar a un acuerdo con una marca rival, concretamente Peugeot, para desarrollar un moderno motor que acabaría siendo usado más por Peugeot que por Renault. Recibimiento frío. Hemos tenido en esta serie de coches incomprendidos coches como el #Fiat Multipla o el AMC Pacer, coches que causaron rechazo desde el principio… pero no dejaron indiferente. Eso de que se hable de ti, aunque sea mal, también pasa en los coches. El R14 no causó rechazo, fue peor, causó cierta indiferencia. El R14, incluso por dentro, a muchos les parecía “demasiado moderno” a otros, simplemente soso… como era el caso de su salpicadero. El ”coche-pera”. Y entonces a un “brillante” -con comillas- ejecutivo-creativo publicitario se le ocurrió una idea extraordinaria: Comparar al R14, que se vendía en un verde “pera” con una pera. ¿Con que objetivo? No se sabe. A lo mejor ese día este creativo no se había tomado su medicación, pero lo cierto es que esta publicidad salió adelante. ¿Y qué pasó? Que se retiró enseguida. Pero el daño estaba hecho. Los clientes, no veían esa forma de pera como una solución de diseño destacable, más bien lo interpretaban como una prueba de falta de solidez y seriedad. Al final se quedó con el mote, que rebasó Francia para llegar a otros países. Convivió cuatro años con el R12, al que apenas superaba en ventas y antes de siete años fue sustituido por el R11 y luego por el 9. Su produjeron en algo más de seis años casi un millón de coches… ¿Puede considerarse en fracaso? Hombre si te digo que del VW Golf I se han fabricado 7 millones de unidades, desde 1974 hasta 2009, cuando cesó su fabricación en Sudáfrica, pues sí. Todo es relativo. España: Más de lo mismo. La vida del R14 en España fue todavía más breve, pues no apareció hasta 1976, cuatro años más tarde, pero eso sí, era Made in Spain. A pesar de los esfuerzos de la marca, el R14 lo tuvo peor en España, un mercado mucho menos maduro y donde los coches de 2 volúmenes, pese al Golf, se perciben como “menos coche” que un tres volúmenes. ¡Hubo un coupé! El proyecto 121, que era la clave interna del R14, contemplaba una versión coupé, parecida a un Hunting Break o Shooting Brake, como más os guste… “coupé de caza” para entendernos. En 1974 François Wasservogel, propuso este concepto de un "shooting brake" basado en el R14 que entonces se estaba industrializando. Se piense en Ligier para hacer esta carrocería, pero suceden dos cosas: Una la crisis de petróleo no invita a lanzar coupés, aunque sean modestos. La otra, que se acaban de remodelar los R15 y R17… así que iba haber una rivalidad interna. Se decide dejar el proyecto para más adelante, pero el escaso éxito del R14 aconseja no liarla más. Una curiosidad, para este modelo se preveía la denominación R9, por ser impar, como los otros coupés y de una numeración inferior, que debía dar idea que se situaba por debajo de los otros modelos deportivos. Conclusión. ¿Mereció este modelo semejante “maltrato” por parte de los compradores? Pues sin duda no. Honestamente, creo que no era un producto redondo que, si tren delantero McPherson no estaba bien resuelto, que faltaban versiones más prestacionales que sí tuvieron sus rivales, entre ellas el Golf GTi, que la estética no cautivo y que la publicidad fue en error de bulto… pero, dicho todo esto, no era un mal coche, ni mucho menos. Y, en mi opinión, en este momento, precisamente porque no tuvo éxito, porque se fabricaron, pocas unidades y se mantienen aún menos, es una buena pieza de colección.

With June's inflation data set for release tomorrow, nerves jangled in US stock markets overnight. Sharp declines were recorded as investors fretted about the Fed's ability to engineer a soft landing for the economy while taming inflation with higher interest rates. Bad news, too, out of China this morning. No such worries for US Dollar Bulls, however, as the greenback powered to its highest level in two decades - with the Rand feeling more pain, sailing beyond the R17/$ level. Also in this morning's BizNews Breakfast Briefing, mandatory vaccines; the Eskom CEO's plan to end (or at least reduce) loadshedding; and frontrunners to replace UK prime minister Boris Johnson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Rand has taken a sharp fall and broken the R17 mark to the US Dollar, seeing it hovering at its lowest levels in two years. In this interview Arno von Helden of Shyft explains the likely local and global factors that have affected the tumble, and what educated information might expect from the Rand's performance over the next six months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The rand has staged a slight recovery and retreated from a 20-month low, but it is still trading near R17 to the dollar as risks such as Eskom's power cuts and fears around a global recession persist. Business Day TV discussed the moves playing out in the currency space with the Co-Head of Financial Markets at ETM Analytics, Kieran Siney.

It was a huge week for Calvin with a score of 2512, but the same can't be said for some of his captain tips! The boys chat through all the drama from the weekend and push towards R17. Play AFL Fantasy at http://fantasy.afl.com.au or download the free smartphone app. Episode guide 1:20 - Calvin copped a bit this week for his captain selection with some people starting petitions. 4:50 - Luke Jackson's late withdrawal was a drama for many coaches. 8:00 - The Traders scored well this week with just 19 points separating Calvin and Warnie in the overall rankings. 11:00 - Connor Rozee copped Warnie's -3 for his poor first half. 15:40 - All the news of the round including Aaron Hall and Dayne Zorko getting injured early for low scores. 22:35 - How did Braydon Preuss perform in the VFL?  27:00 - How do the rucks look heading into round 17? 32:20 - Is it time to get Tim Taranto? 36:00 - Can you trade Patrick Cripps? 41:45 - Top trades for the week with the most traded players plus Roy, Calvin and Warnie's early moves. 45:10 - Questions from social media - follow @AFLFantasy on Twitter and like the Official AFL Fantasy facebook page. 49:00 - Could you bring in Kidean Coleman for Zorko? 52:40 - Ranking Andrew Brayshaw, Touk Miller, Jack Steele and Zach Merrett. 56:40 - Is the Harry Himmelberg experiment over? Find more content from The Traders at afl.com.au/fantasy. Like AFL Fantasy on Facebook. Follow @AFLFantasy on Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

KZN has again turned to National Treasury for R17 billion in disaster financial assistance.

Seguro que os acordáis del vídeo “Deportivos generalistas, garantía de fracaso”. Y es que con, excepciones, siempre es así. Y en ese vídeo incluía el Renault Fuego como fracaso, lo que creó una oleada de protestas por vuestra parte… Tantas, que he elegido este modelo para inaugurar este formato de “Coches incomprendidos”. Renault quería un coupé. A pesar de su presencia exitosa en competición, del empleo del turbo en sus coches y de su experiencia en pequeños coupés, como el Floride, los R15 o R17 o el propio Alpine, Renault no tenía el prestigio de otros fabricantes europeos como Alfa Romeo o BMW entre otros. Y pensó que tener un coupé la ayudaría a conseguirlo. Opron, de Citroën a Renault. Para mí Robert Opron es el mejor diseñador de coches francés que ha diseñado coches como el Citroën Ami 6, el DS, el SM, el GS y el CX… Otros coches suyos fueron el Simca 1.100/1.200, los R9 y R11, el R25 y el denominado, “Il Mostro”; el Alfa Romeo SZ, pero es que también es el diseñador de otro de mis coches favoritos, el Alpine A310. Y, además, del Renault Fuego. La pregunta clave es: ¿Os gusta la estética del Renault Fuego? A mí, mucho. Creo que Opron tiene, como diseñador, una virtud que valoro especialmente: Sus diseños son muy personales, muy “de autor” y saca mucho partido a lo que tiene. Diseñar un coupé con el motor delantero en voladizo es complicado. Debut, éxito y “pinchazo”. En el Salón de Ginebra de 1980 se presenta en sociedad el Renault Fuego y el éxito es inmediato en Europa y Norteamérica. Al año siguiente se convierte en el Coupé más vendido en Europa. La cosa prometía. Renault se vino arriba. Y en el Salón de París de 1982 para mi cometió un error: Presentar el Fuego TD que no gustó al mercado. Además, la publicidad no fue muy acertada, con una foto del Fuego TD boca abajo se decían tres cosas, no sé cuál menos oportuna: 1. “Un Diesel que pone patas arriba la carretera”. ¿Qué quiere decir esto? 2. “Un coupé único en el Mundo”, sí, pero para mal. Por mucho turbo que tuviese, arrancar un coupé y que suene a Diésel de los ’80, en general no gustaba. 3. “El Coupé Diésel más rápido del Mundo”, lo que era falso, porque ya en 1977 Mercedes tenía un Coupé, el 300 CD Turbodiésel, que era más rápido. Fuese por esto, por cansancio del público, pero no era nada deportivo o por lo que queráis, las ventas del Fuego en Europa y en los EE.UU. de Norteamérica, cayeron en picado. ¡El patito se convierte en cisne! Para pasar de “patito feo a cisne” el Renault Fuego tuvo que emigrar. El Fuego, como ya he dicho, se comenzó a fabricar en Europa en 1980 y su producción cesó en 1985. Pero en Argentina comenzó su producción a finales de 1982 y se prolongó nada menos que 10 años, convirtiéndose en un coche de referencia. ¿Qué pasó para que en Argentina este modelo consiguiera un éxito que no tuvo en Europa, o lo tuvo poco tiempo? 1. La filial de Renault en Argentina no se limitó a seguir fabricando el coche, sino que lo evolucionó con diversas motorizaciones de hasta 2,2 litros y muchas mejoras. 2. En Argentina y en América en general, los competidores del Fuego eran otros, generalmente coches de importación más caros. Hablamos de un coche que, en Argentina, era de fabricación nacional. 3. La competición creo que fue muy importante en un país con tanta afición por el automóvil. Este coche ganó muchos campeonatos argentinos en la categoría Turismo Competición 2000 gracias, sobre todo, a Oreste Berta, un preparador muy ligado a la filial argentina. Y ahora, ¿qué? Como clásico, aquí en España, este coche, no como todos los coupés de marcas generalistas, sino incluso más que otros, ha sido despreciado por los aficionados. Pero esto ha cambiado por varios motivos, uno es que comienza a ser un coche escaso y otro, que en mi opinión es un coche que ha envejecido bien, es un coche que en este momento resulta incluso más llamativo y bonito que lo era en su tiempo. Conclusión. Honestamente, la trayectoria del Fuego en Europa puede calificarse más de fracaso que de éxito. Pero en Sudamérica yo diría que, todo lo contrario. Pero, si entendemos lo que es, un coche práctico, bonito, un coupé con nulas o escasas pretensiones deportiva, es un buen clásico, porque era un coche muy fiable. Y un diseño espectacular de Opron. Coche del día. Voy a elegir un Renault Fuego, pero una versión especial con un Kit de preparación que desarrollo el preparador argentino Berta y que elevaba la potencia a 178 CV. Este Renault Fuego GTX Berta Grupo 2 incluía muchas modificaciones, no solo en el motor, sino en frenos, suspensiones, ruedas incluso aerodinámicas. La verdad es que el coche por fuera cambiaba muy poco, pero raspaba los 210 Km/h y aceleraba sobre 1.000 m. desde parado en poco más de 30 segundos. Unas prestaciones muy serias.

Jean De Villiers helps someone win R17,500 in "To Score or Not to Score" with Betway! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I look at news issues that didn't make it big in mainstream media this week, namely the suspected serial killings in uMthwalume (KZN), and the latest from the murder of Collins Khoza, allegedly at the hands of the SANDF during lockdown. I then chat to IRR Chief of Staff, John Endres, about the recently released plan to get South Africa's economy back on is feet, and potentially growing at 7% per year. Is it feasible? How does it differ from the plans by government and labour unions? Also, stay tuned to find out who the Moemish of the Week is! Support the show, and help me get this podcast syndicated on more community radio stations across South Africa. Donate as little as $1 (R17) per month via Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/join/BigDaddyLiberty), or via PayPal (bigdaddylibertyza@gmail.com). youtube.com · www.youtube.com

I am in conversation with Politricks Host, Jimmy Ramokgopa, and Joe Emilio, standup comedian and host of The Joe Show. We talk about the pressure mounted on the ANC-govt to ease the lockdown and end the bans on liquor and cigarrettes, by elements within government. Is the political cost of lockdown authoritarianism proving costly? Also, find out who this weeks MOEMISH OF THE WEEK is! Support the show, and help me get this podcast syndicated on more community radio stations across South Africa. Donate as little as $1 (R17) per month via Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/join/BigDaddyLiberty), or via PayPal (bigdaddylibertyza@gmail.com). youtube.com · www.youtube.com