Electricity price hike backlash, and SA rugby union hauled before parliament

Here’s what is happening in and affecting South Africa today:

• Saru to be hauled before Parliament: The parliamentary portfolio committee on sport, arts, and culture has summoned South African Rugby Union (Saru) leaders to explain a proposed deal with US private equity firm Ackerley Sports Group (ASG), which involves selling a 20% stake in Saru’s Commercial Rights Company for $75 million. ASG is actively seeking support from dissenting unions for the deal, which also grants ASG control over Springbok commercial rights. [Business Day]

• High Court to hear illegal miners bid for relief: The High Court in Pretoria is set to hear a case regarding a standoff between police and illegal miners at a Stilfontein mine in the North West. The Society for the Protection of our Constitution is seeking relief for the miners, as police wait for them to resurface. Last week, Judge Brenda Neukircher ordered that the mine be unblocked for emergency access. Concerns over the miners’ health and conditions persist as arrests await those who resurface. [SABC]

• Electricity tariff hikes backlash: As public consultations on Eskom’s proposed tariff hikes kicked off, so has public outcry. For the period spanning April 2025 to March 2028, Eskom has applied for a tariff hike of 36% in the first year, and a further 11.8% and 9.1% in the following two years, respectively. With R90 billion in unpaid electricity bills by municipalities, local governments have warned that further, unaffordable power tariff increases would only exacerbate the situation. [News24]

• Pretoria Girls High SGB launches court action: The Pretoria High School for Girls’ School Governing Body has filed a court application against the Gauteng Department of Education and the MEC for education following its controversial investigation into alleged racism at the school. [PoliticsWeb]

• Markets: The rand jumped on Monday, as markets welcomed rating agency S&P’s decision to raise the country’s credit rating outlook. On Tuesday (19 November), the rand was trading at R17.93 to the dollar, R22.78 to the pound, and R19.08 to the euro. Oil is trading at $73.49 a barrel. [Reuters]