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

Making headlines: South African economy averts recession as mining sector rebounds; Gauteng reiterates exit of GFIP tolling by end March; And, Ekurhuleni councillors sign petition to reconvene council for motion against mayor

South African economy averts recession as mining sector rebounds

South Africa’s economy escaped a technical recession in the fourth quarter as fewer rotational power cuts helped energy-intensive industries including mining and manufacturing rebound.

Gross domestic product expanded 0.1% in the three months through December, compared with a contraction of 0.2% in the prior quarter, Statistics South Africa said in a report released in Pretoria, today. That undershot the 0.2% median estimate of 12 economists in a Bloomberg survey.

Growth for the full year was 0.6%, compared with 1.9% in 2022.

Other sectors that contributed to growth in the fourth quarter included finance and transportation.

The figures are likely to be used by opposition parties to attack the ruling African National Congress handling of the economy before a general election on May 29. Opinion polls show support for the ANC dipping below 50% for the first time since it came to power in 1994.

Gauteng reiterates exit of GFIP tolling by end March

The Gauteng provincial government has approached financial institutions to raise money required to honour its contractual obligations ahead of the March 31, 2024, target date to scrap the tolling of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project.

Gauteng Finance MEC Jacob Mamabolo reiterated the province’s commitment to resolve the issue of e-tolls “once and for all”.

Mamabolo highlighted that as part of the winding down process, statutory authorities at national level, National Treasury, the Department of Transport and the South African National Roads Agency will carry out all the necessary steps to cease the collection of e-tolls and gazette such accordingly.

Gauteng road users will no longer be charged for the use of the Gauteng freeways 14 days after the publishing of the deregulation gazette.

Various processes will be in place leading up to the date, including turning the tag beeps off and stopping invoices to road users; however, the gantry lights and cameras will remain on for other law enforcement purposes.

Road users will also be able to continue to use their e-tags at all other toll plazas across South Africa.

And, Ekurhuleni councillors sign petition to reconvene council for motion against mayor

ActionSA City of Ekurhuleni Caucus Leader Siyanda Makhubo noted that Speaker of Council Nthabiseng Tshivhenga met with party leaders today, to formally submit a petition from councillors obligating her to reconvene council.

Last Thursday, violence broke out in the council chambers during ActionSA’s motion against “the EFF’s puppet mayor” Sivuyile Nogdwana.

ActionSA placed a motion against the mayor citing a collapse of service delivery in the municipality.

Makhubo said that councillors in Ekurhuleni from ActionSA, African Christian Democratic Party, African National Congress, Democratic Alliance, Freedom Front-Plus, Patriotic Alliance, Independent Ratepayers Association of SA, Inkatha Freedom Party, the Congress of the People, African Transformation Movement, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, the United Democratic Movement, and the Independent Citizen Movement had signed a petition that obligates Tshivhenga, through the Municipal Structures Act, to reconvene a council meeting if a majority of councillors request it.

Makhubo explained that the petition requires 113 signatures in Ekurhuleni, and because of the EFF’s actions last week, this threshold will be easily reached as all parties remain united to reconvene the February 29th Council meeting.

He said the Council must reconvene within 7 days in an extraordinary sitting where ActionSA’s motion will be tabled once again.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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