For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Shomolekae.

Making headlines: Solidarity warns Ramaphosa on NHI implementation; Nersa publishes new municipal tariff application deadlines; And, Parly committee, ANC support SANDF deployment as operations underway

Ramaphosa on NHI implementation

Solidarity today pointed out that government cannot, through “political rhetoric or administrative manoeuvres”, continue implementing the National Health Insurance system, which is currently stalled by a court order.

This was in response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s statement during yesterday’s parliamentary question and answer session, in which the organisation said he gave the impression that the implementation of the NHI Act is continuing, even though, according to a recent court order, it cannot.

Last month Ramaphosa confirmed that he would not promulgate any provisions of the NHI Act prior to the Constitutional Court handing down judgment on the public participation challenges, and that he would not enforce any part of the Act until he was requested to do so by the Minister of Health.

The President clarified that the court order would not stop preparatory work already underway, such as registering patients who would use the NHI, as well as the accreditation and contracting of health service providers.

Solidarity’s legal team will study Ramaphosa’s statements to determine whether the preparatory work mentioned could potentially be a violation of the court order.

The organisation believes that Ramaphosa is trying to create the impression that the NHI already has momentum and that implementation is inevitable.

Nersa publishes new municipal tariff application deadlines

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa has published new timelines for the submission and approval of municipal electricity tariff applications for the 2026/27 financial year.

For municipal tariff applications, municipalities or distributors must submit their electricity tariff applications to Nersa by no later than March 31.

Nersa's public consultation process on municipal tariff applications will conclude on April 21. It will finalise the consideration of the municipal electricity tariff applications and communicate its decisions on or before May 11.

The timelines will ensure Nersa considers the municipal tariffs timeously and will enable municipalities to implement approved tariffs at the beginning of the 2026/27 municipal financial year on July 1.

And, Parly committee, ANC support SANDF deployment as operations underway

Parliament’s Select Committee on Security and Justice and the African National Congress have expressed appreciation for the visibility of the South African National Defence Force in various parts of the country, saying the deployment should be understood in context, to create stability in communities, and to protect society from crime.

There have been mixed reactions to the deployment, with some political parties and civil society organisations raising alarms about the legality of the deployment, citing concerns with constitutional oversight.

Committee Chairperson Jane Mananiso said an impression must never be created that Ramaphosa acted unlawfully or bypassed parliamentary processes.

ANC National Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu explained that the deployment is a plan in action, to curb gangsterism, the proliferation of drugs and illegal mining.

She refuted what she said were distortions by the Democratic Alliance that the army is not well trained and prepared to deal with these crimes.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA