Good morning. Today we’re covering speculation that a fuel price decrease will lead to a fuel levy increase to pay for e-tolls in Gauteng, the SARB governor is worried about the implications of a potential financial greylisting for SA, and Jacob Zuma’s daughter has added her voice to those calling for finance minister Enoch Godongwana to step aside following sexual harassment allegations.
‘Alarmist’: Mbalula shuts down speculation that e-tolls will be funded by fuel levy hike – News24
Transport minister Fikile Mbalula quashed a concern raised by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) after it wanted to know whether the fuel levy would be raised to pay for the controversial e-tolls system in Gauteng.
Mbalula called concerns around a fuel levy increase “alarmist” and “rumour-mongering” with OUTA speculating that the fuel levy would be raised by between 25 cents to 30 cents a litre to cover e-tolls due to the fuel price decrease expected in September.
OUTA claims the fuel price decrease will be used as cover to increase the fuel levy while Mbalula has previously said the e-tolls issue will be raised in the medium-term budget in October. Read more here.
Money laundering | Governor Kganyago flags huge implications of greylisting for SA economy – Times LIVE
SA Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago has warned members of parliament that a looming financial greylisting for South Africa’s financial services industry would result in higher borrowing costs and that “hope is not a strategy” to deal with the threat.
“We have got to treat this with urgency and demonstrate significant progress so we can prevent greylisting or, should we be greylisted, we will be able to come off that list within 12 months, and that is what happened with Mauritius and Zimbabwe and a number of other countries.”
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in October last year identified significant weaknesses in various parts of SA’s financial sector. Read more here.
Zuma’s daughter Thuthukile calls for Enoch Godongwana to step aside amid sexual harassment claim – Daily Maverick
There is a growing chorus calling for finance minister Enoch Godongwana to step aside from his role after he was accused of sexual harassment by an employee of Kruger Shalati at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park.
Former president Jacob Zuma’s daughter Thuthukile Zuma has added her voice to those calling for Godongwana to step aside and said that if the minister respected women and the fight against gender-based violence he would relinquish his official roles and allow the courts to run their course.
The ANC’s ‘step aside’ rule states that anyone in the organisation who has been formally charged or indicted with a criminal offence should relinquish their responsibilities in the party or public office until they are cleared.
It’s reported that the employee at Kruger Shalati has opened a criminal case against Godongwana. Read more here.
Here’s what else we’re reading today:
Dollar firm as Fed digs in for inflation fight – SABC News
Reserve Bank expects core inflation to average 3.9% this year – SABC News
Stocks drop, treasuries climb as sentiment sours: markets wrap – Daily Maverick
WC govt urges liquor traders to comply with new rules or risk losing licences – EWN
Mkhwebane once again defends sidelining former PP deputy Malunga – EWN
Tshwane mayor denies bribery, corruption allegations as EFF opens criminal case – News24
Fixing South Africa’s imploding public health system – time to take over from the politicians – Daily Maverick
SA ministers’ customs duty dithering ‘costs economy and importers billions’ – Daily Maverick
Massive strike action to go ahead next week in South Africa – BusinessTech
Tensions between Caxton, Mpact boil over – Fin24
Image Credit: GCIS
