Business Today

Department of Water and Sanitation on course with issuing of water-use licences in 90 days
The Department of Water and Sanitation is working towards the realisation of the finalisation of water-use licence applications within 90 days, reducing from 300 days as previously done. The new turn-around time is part of government’s strategy to enhance the delivery of economic reform through Operation Vulindlela, which is aimed at fast-tracking service delivery across various sectors of society.
BER WEEKLY
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BER Weekly
Larger than expected policy interest rate moves by the ECB and the SARB, as well as data releases showing a further softening in US growth momentum, drove financial markets last week. Looking to this week, the interest rate announcement by the US Fed on Wednesday is in focus. Locally, a spate of data will be released towards the end of the week, including the PPI for June.
BER Weekly – 25 July 2022: Click here to download
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BUSINESS NEWS
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Mayor announces policy shift allowing commercial and industrial electricity generators to sell energy to the City
The City of Cape Town’s Mayor, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announce two important steps in the City’s journey to ending load-shedding and becoming energy secure. The City of Cape Town will now pay cash to small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) customers for the excess energy they produce and sell back to the City.
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Minister Barbara Creecy announces improved environmental assessment processes for solar energy
Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister, Ms Barbara Creecy, has announced initiatives for further streamlining the environmental assessment process for renewable energy projects in South Africa. The announcement was made during a virtual stakeholder engagement. These measures will improve the efficiency of the environmental assessment processes to facilitate the development of Solar PV and associated infrastructure in areas of low to medium environmental sensitivity.
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Public reminded of meetings about spatial plans guiding development and land use in Cape Town
The City of Cape Town is hosting public meetings where residents, business owners, and all other interested and affected parties can ask questions and comment on the eight draft integrated district spatial development frameworks (DSDFs) and environmental management frameworks (EMFs); as well as the draft municipal spatial development framework (MSDF).
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2021/22 Annual report on non-compliance with payment of Suppliers’ Invoices within 30 days
National Treasury has released an annual report on non-compliance with payment of suppliers’ invoices within 30 days. The report reveals that there is an overall regression in the number of invoices not paid within 30 days by national and provincial departments in the 2021/22 financial year. The number of invoices paid after 30 days by national and provincial departments in the 2021/2022 financial year amounted to 401 691 invoices to the Rand value of R 33.7 billion.
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Consumer inflation surges to a 13-year high
Annual consumer inflation jumped to 7,4% in June from 6,5% in May, mainly driven by rising transport and food prices. The June rate is the highest reading since May 2009 (8,0%) when the economy was facing the headwind of currency depreciation during the global financial crisis.
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Western Cape Government on hospitality and tourism industries
The Western Cape’s hospitality, tourism and events sectors are among the industries leading the charge in the province’s post-Covid-19 economic recovery. This is shown by recent accolades awarded to Cape Town International Airport, some of Cape Town’s best restaurants, and the town of Franschhoek.
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UIF urges employers to pay contributions and declare their workers
The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has urged employers to pay contributions and declare their workers every month, as required by law, to avoid delays with benefit applications and payments.
Speaking at an employer advocacy session in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, UIF Provincial Support Director, Allan Ragavaloo, said the majority of normal benefit payments including the special Covid-19 TERS were delayed due to a lack of up-to-date declarations by employers.
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Leader’s Angle Series Online Event – 27 July 2022
Join a much-awaited panel discussion of key trends and insights outlined in the GEM report, as well as a glimpse into the future of the entrepreneurial sphere.