For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe. 

Making headlines: DA to lay criminal charges against Thembi Simelane; Ramaphosa says new path charted for water sector; And, South Africa should work to broaden trade relations

DA to lay criminal charges against Thembi Simelane

Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane is once again in the spotlight after she was named in a News24 investigation involving Eskom and contractor Vitrovian, alleging that she was paid R700 000 during her employment at Vitrovian to stop protests at Eskom’s Kusile Power Plant.

The Democratic Alliance will now lay criminal charges against her and will be writing to the National Prosecuting Authority to follow up on another investigation on Simelane’s alleged involvement with a VBS Mutual Bank loan.

The DA will also urge President Cyril Ramaphosa to remove Simelane from Cabinet.

The allegations against Simelane in the Vitrovian investigation allege that the company inflated charges and billed Eskom for work done by ghost employees.

The DA asked the Presidency to make public Simelane’s report to Ramaphosa on her involvement in the VBS matter but was rejected

Ramaphosa says new path charted for water sector

A new course will be charted for South Africa’s water sector following the landmark Water and Sanitation Indaba held last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa said today in his weekly ‘From the desk of the President’ newsletter.

The National Water and Sanitation Indaba was held from March 27 to 28 to develop a clear plan for resolving challenges in the sector, building on the structural reform processes initiated under the sixth administration.

Ramaphosa said that the recommendations emanating from the Indaba “give cause for great optimism”, with focused, evidence-based solutions and suggestions with clear delivery timelines.

He said as the suggested solutions are implemented, government will chart a new course for water management.

These include reinstating the Drop water quality monitoring system, significantly improving the turnaround time for processing water-use licence applications and developing a raw water pricing strategy, as well as work toward establishing the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency, which will be responsible for developing and managing national water infrastructure and mobilising financing for water infrastructure.

And, South Africa should work to broaden trade relations

South Africa must build trade relationships more widely owing to the risks to the economy from the tariffs imposed by the US administration under President Donald Trump, said business lobby organisation Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busi Mavuso.

While the US is not South Africa's largest market for locally made cars, it is responsible for about 5% of light vehicle exports and earns about R26-billion of revenue for South Africa. This is at risk following the imposition of 25% tariffs on automotive imports by the US, she noted.

Some of these exports will be able to find alternative markets, especially as reciprocal tariffs mean US vehicles will be shunned by many other countries, including our biggest vehicle market Europe. But the international consequences are severe, with global supply chains disrupted, driving prices higher and damaging demand, she warned.

South Africa should seek new trading relationships, such as with the Middle East, with which it has limited engagement other than as an importer of oil. There are opportunities across these and other markets and the country needs a programme of engagement, Mavuso argued.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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