For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: DA votes with ANC in City of Joburg for councillors to get salary increases, City of Johannesburg dismisses need for inquiry into Joburg fire and, battle over electricity hikes heads to court as regulator slams City of Cape Town tariff

DA votes with ANC in City of Joburg for councillors to get salary increases

City of Joburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda will now earn R1.5-million, an increase of almost R55 000, after the council approved recommendations to raise salaries.

The government of local unity, the name given to the ANC, Economic Freedom Fighters and Patriotic Alliance, agreed on a salary increase while the EFF and ActionSA voted against it.

The DA voted with the ANC’s coalition.

The salary increase was voted on just five days after the fire that killed 77 people in the city and about three months after the council approved a mega R80.9-billion budget, with tariff hikes of 2% for property, 9.3% for water and sanitation each, an electricity tariff increase of 14.97%, and a refuse tariff increase of 7%.

ANC councillor Tefo Raphadu said the councillors are the most neglected people.

City of Johannesburg dismisses need for inquiry into Joburg fire

In the wake of the fire that gutted the Usindiso Building in Marshalltown, the City of Johannesburg Department of Public Safety believes that the funds for a proposed commission of inquiry could be better used to urgently upgrade the skills and technology of the city’s Metro Police to intensify the fight against crime.

Last week, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi indicated that he would launch an inquiry into the deadly fire where more than 70 people died, including 12 children.

The idea was widely criticised by political parties.  

Retired Constitutional Court Judge Sisi Khampepe will chair the commission but the City said past experience had shown that commissions of inquiry take months, if not years, to conclude, with many yielding no results and “only masking inaction”.

Battle over electricity hikes heads to court as regulator slams City of Cape Town tariff

The National Electricity Regulator of South Africa says the 17.6% electricity tariff imposed by the City of Cape Town for the 2023/24 financial year is unlawful, and contravenes the distribution licence provided by the regulator. 

This was outlined in a response to questions sent to Nersa about the ongoing dispute over the electricity tariff currently enforced by the municipality.

Earlier this year, Nersa rejected the city's application for an above-guideline electricity tariff increase of 17.6%.

Instead, Nersa said the city should enforce a 15.1% electricity tariff increase on 1 July 2023.

The city has since applied to the high court to have the energy regulator's 15.1% tariff increase proposal reviewed, which Nersa is expected to oppose. 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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