September 25, 2024.

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines:

Minister said Basic Education needs more from the national budget to avoid ‘national crisis’

Thembi Simelane to appear before ANC Integrity Commission

And, DA appeals for strong public opposition to Eskom tariff hike proposal

Minister said Basic Education needs more from the national budget to avoid ‘national crisis’

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said today that provincial education departments will in the next two to three years, find it increasingly difficult to fund existing posts and programmes within the available budget, unless measures are proactively taken to mitigate this risk.

Gwarube was briefing the media about imminent budget cuts in the department, where she stressed the need for the education department to receive a larger share of the national budget, to ensure that there were enough teachers, quality infrastructure, and adequate resources for every learner.

She pointed out that most provincial education departments required between R350-million and R3.8-billion over the medium-term expenditure framework to fully fund their respective basket of posts.

The Western Cape Education Department has already decided to cut 2 400 teaching jobs for 2025, owing to budget shortfalls.

Thembi Simelane to appear before ANC Integrity Commission

Justice Minister Thembi Simelane has been called by the African National Congress (ANC) to appear before its Integrity Commission today.

Earlier this month, Simelane appeared before the Justice Portfolio Committee, and she is scheduled to meet with President Cyril Ramaphosa, relating to her alleged corrupt involvement with a VBS Mutual Bank loan.

It was alleged that while serving as the mayor of Polokwane in 2016, Simelane took a loan of R575 600 from Gundo Wealth Solutions, the company that brokered “unlawful” investments of R349-million into VBS Bank on behalf of the Polokwane municipality, amongst others.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said Simelane’s appearance before the Integrity Commission would allow her to state her case, as a way to preserve the integrity of ANC members.

The meeting would not be open to the public but Mbalula said developments would be communicated.

DA appeals for strong public opposition to Eskom tariff hike proposal

The Democratic Alliance is urging South Africans to “show up in their numbers” during the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s public hearings between November 18 and December 4, to oppose Eskom’s tariff hike proposal.

The sixth multiyear price determination, published by Nersa, shows that Eskom has applied for allowable revenue of R446-billion for the 2025/26 financial year, which, if granted, would translate to a tariff increase for direct Eskom customers of 36.15% on April 1 next year, and a 43.55% hike in municipal tariffs from July 1.

The DA called Eskom’s request “outrageous” and said if granted, already struggling South Africans would face increased living costs.

The party wants all South Africans to take part in Nersa’s public hearings later this year, describing it as an opportunity to stand up against what it calls a broken energy system.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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