Economic growth is a prerequisite for black empowerment - why is Government getting it so wrong in the mining sector?
This brief highlights the wider economic implications of Government’s action in attempting to implement empowerment rules without the relevant industry’s agreement, with particular reference to the mining industry.
Debt - the millstone around Eskom’s neck
This brief analyses the magnitude of the problem posed by Eskom’s massive debt, coupled with the lack of information on what is being done about it.
Eskom’s latest tariff application - Our Submission to the National Energy Regulator
This brief contains a summary of the Helen Suzman Foundation’s submission to the National Energy Regulator on Eskom’s latest tariff application. It describes the extremely serious financial situation in which Eskom finds itself and the strategic issues that need to be addressed.
Publication of the new Mining Charter
This brief contains our reaction to the contents of the new Mining Charter, which was published on 27 September 2018.
Submission on the Draft Broad-Based Socio-Economic Empowerment Charter for the Mining and Minerals Industry, 2018
This brief summarises the HSF’s submission to the Department of Mineral Resources, in response to the Draft Mining Charter which was published in June 2018 for public comment.
Eskom’s 2018 Financial Results
This brief provides a commentary on the main features of Eskom’s 2018 annual financial statements, released on 23 July 2018.
How should the National Energy Regulator respond to Eskom’s application for a retrospective reimbursement of R66.7bn for the period 2014 to 2017?
The HSF participated in public hearings on 11 May 2018, organised by the National Energy Regulator to receive comments on Eskom’s retrospective refund claim of R66.7bn. This brief analyses the substance of this claim and highlights the refusal by Eskom to confront the reality of a changed energy landscape.
Mining Charter Third Version: What are the legal issues?
Following the publication of the third version of the Mining Charter, the Chamber of Mines filed an urgent application in the North Gauteng High Court to interdict the application of the Charter pending its review by a court. The application will be heard on 14 and 15 September 2017.
This brief by Anton van Dalsen and Charles Collocott looks at the magnitude of Eskom’s financial problems, against the background of its 2016/17 annual report which was released last week.
This brief by Anton van Dalsen and Charles Collocott shows the nature of the serious financial difficulties facing Eskom, which have not received the necessary public attention.
This brief follows other recent pieces which we have published on the issue of nuclear power in South Africa (see our briefs dated 18 November 2016 and 15 December 2016). It provides an update to the debate surrounding Government plans for new nuclear power, highlighting two issues that continue to crop up in the public debate and which can be confusing without the necessary background. It also provides the essential facts relating to the court application by Earthlife Africa and the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute, set down for hearing in the High Court on 22 February 2017.
We recently published a set of three briefs on the South African Government’s policy on nuclear power. The Department of Energy has now published a draft new Integrated Resource Plan, whose purpose is to provide the basis for long-term planning in the provision of electricity. This brief aims to provide a succinct summary of the latest developments and, more specifically, to draw attention to the most important issues that have arisen in this process.
Since press reports first surfaced in May 2016 about the sale of 10 million barrels of crude oil by the Strategic Fuel Fund NPC (SFF) from its strategic reserves, the SFF has received continuous media attention not only on account of that sale but also as a result of its other activities. This brief provides a summary of the current status of the issues that have arisen at the SFF, a state-owned enterprise, within the wider context of governance at state-owned entities.
The first brief in this series reported the current status of the new nuclear project. The second brief dealt with the nuclear project in the context of energy policy. This brief will deal with construction and financing issues and draw conclusions from the brief series.
The first brief in this series discussed the current status of the new nuclear power project. This brief situates the projects within a wider energy policy framework. The third, and final, brief will deal with cost and financing issues.
This is the first of three briefs on nuclear power. It considers the current status of the new nuclear power project. The second discusses the policy framework for energy and the role of nuclear power within it. The third brief will deal with technical and financial issues and will come to conclusions.
This Brief deals with an overview of how issues of mineral and land rights and community governance undermine individuals and communities in interactions with mining companies. The argument is that future suffering can be prevented by keeping the basic principle that mining must benefit South Africans while changing the structure and, most importantly, the application of some of the law. Two follow-up briefs will delve more deeply into each issue.
This Brief done by HSF's Sarika Doodnath deals with the Silicosis and Tuberculosis cased which are currently being debated over in Court.
The first Brief set out the context of electricity in South Africa. This one elucidates on the progress that has been made into the construction of Medupi in Lephalale, which is located towards the west of the Limpopo Province.
This Brief considers the challenges confronting Eskom and the implications on the production and distribution of electricity.
