Latest news with #MERO
IOL News
07-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Maile heeds DA Gauteng's call to release a MERO report
Gauteng's MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile. Since 2020, the DA has been calling on the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) to release a MERO report, as is done in the Western Cape. It is heartening to see that our plea did not fall on deaf ears, says the writer. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng welcomes the release of the long-awaited Municipal Economic Review and Outlook (MERO) report by MEC for Finance, Lebogang Maile, this week. Since 2020, the DA has been calling on the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) to release a MERO report, as is done in the Western Cape. It is heartening to see that our plea did not fall on deaf ears. This crucial report provides proper data on service delivery pitfalls in our municipalities and highlights gaps and improvements needed. Gauteng municipalities are in serious trouble when it comes to financial sustainability due to increasing debt, decline in revenue collection and mismanagement of funds. This has severely affected the delivery of basic services, such as water, electricity, roads, and sanitation to our residents. This report is a step in the right direction to fix municipalities in the province. Where the DA governs in the Western Cape, it has long been implemented, and now Gauteng is following. The DA Gauteng will closely monitor the implementation of the MERO report and hold MEC Maile to account. Mike Moriarty MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Economic Development
Reuters
30-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Poland's Orlen will no longer buy Russian oil, CEO says
WARSAW, June 30 (Reuters) - Polish refiner Orlen ( opens new tab will not buy Russian oil for its Czech refinery after June 30, Chief Executive Ireneusz Fafara said on Monday. The contract with Rosneft for Russian oil to be supplied to the Litvinov refinery in the Czech Republic was the last one linking Orlen to Russian oil, it said in a statement. "We freed Central Europe from Russian oil today," Fafara told a news conference. The Czech Republic had said in April that it had become fully independent of Russian oil supplies for the first time in its history following the completion of capacity upgrades on the TAL pipeline coming from the west. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Czech government has sought to end its partial dependence on the Druzhba pipeline, which has been delivering supplies from Russia for decades and has accounted for about half the country's annual oil imports. At the end of last year Czech pipeline operator MERO completed an upgrade along the Transalpine (TAL) pipeline, which carries oil from tankers in the Italian port of Trieste to Germany, where it feeds into the Ingolstadt–Kralupy–Litvinov (IKL) pipeline to the Czech Republic. Orlen said that currently, Czech refineries are supplied with crude oil from, among others, the North Sea and Mediterranean region, Saudi Arabia, South and North America, and Africa.
The Citizen
28-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Bob and game reserve to be revived, Krugersdorp mayor says in SOCA
Bob and game reserve to be revived, Krugersdorp mayor says in SOCA In Part 4 of Mayor Lucky Sele's State of the City Address (SOCA), economic development services take centre stage as Mogale City embarks on several ambitious projects aimed at restoring key landmarks and boosting growth. The Krugersdorp News continues to break down the mayor's address to better inform the public about his strategic plans. • Also read: Mayor maps out housing future for Mogale Sele described Mogale City as the West Rand's urban centre and a gateway between Gauteng and North West, adding, 'The city continues to position itself as a hub of inclusive economic growth, township industrialisation, and catalytic spatial transformation.' Sele cited the 2024 Municipal Socio-Economic Review and Outlook (MERO), saying key GDP contributors are community services (22.9%), manufacturing (22.6%), and finance (20.9%). In response, the city is focused on job creation, enterprise support, and rural-urban economic integration. 'Through deliberate public investment and intergovernmental collaboration, the municipality is implementing the Investment Promotion and Incentives Policy to stimulate sectors like manufacturing, agro-processing, and renewable energy,' he adds. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are being leveraged to unlock investments and accelerate project delivery. Notable initiatives include the revitalisation of Bob van Reenen Sports Precinct, Coronation Park, and a proposed Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Plant. • Also read: Bob now a jungle Sele says the Krugersdorp Game Reserve has received Treasury approval for commercialisation, with plans underway to reopen it under a sustainable, tourism-focused model. Also in the pipeline is a feasibility study to transform Jack Taylor Airfield into a full-fledged municipal airport. Sele stresses Mogale City's resilience, 'Despite socio-economic constraints, we continue to leverage our localisation advantage to promote resilience, transformation, and sustainability.' He shared that over R62m was invested in local SMMEs this financial year, benefiting 128 enterprises. The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) created 1 101 short-term jobs, mostly for youth and women. Three operational Agri-Parks (Tarlton, Magaliesburg/ Carmel Estate and Swanneville) are fostering food security and agro-processing, with equipment support through the Mechanisation Support Programme and ongoing land lease formalisation. Sele also highlights progress in township industrialisation: • Chamdor Automotive Hub supports 10 SMMEs, 20 jobs, and over R350 000 in sales • Munsieville Lepharo Hub acquired R2.7m in machinery for two SMMEs • Swanneville Industrial Park construction is underway with a R12m allocation this year and another R12m planned for 2025/ 26, supporting automotive services • Mining sector collaboration continues, with R2.5b pledged for development projects. Sele praises the Mogale Tailing Retreatment Mine for awarding full tertiary bursaries to two top-performing matriculants Regarding tourism, he states that key highlights include participation in the Africa Travel Indaba and Meetings Africa, in partnership with the Gauteng Tourism Authority and the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. • Also read: Pollution in the Cradle raises international eyebrows 'The reopening of the Sterkfontein Caves marks a significant milestone for the city, as one of the most iconic World Heritage Sites, it is not only a cornerstone of our tourism economy but also a globally recognised centre for paleoanthropological research and education. These reopenings breathe new life into local tourism and stimulate economic activity for surrounding communities. As the City of Human Origin, Mogale City is proud to welcome the world back to Sterkfontein.' Maropeng, the official visitor centre for the Cradle of Humankind, will celebrate its 20th anniversary in December and host the G20 Science and Innovation Working Group. Sele acknowledges youth development setbacks since 2021 due to a lack of central co-ordination but revealed plans to appoint a Youth Development Co-ordinator by June to integrate youth agendas across departments. Last year, a Junior Student Council was formed and recently competed in an inter-municipal debate, placing as first runner-up. We are committed to supporting platforms that empower youth.' Through a R13.8m CETA grant, 251 youth will benefit from skills development programmes starting in 2025/ 26, ranging from construction to entrepreneurship. Major infrastructure achievements include approval of 370 land-use applications, 342 building plans worth R415m, and action on 470 illegal structures. Sele says the city is rolling out e-lodgement for planning applications and finalising property by-laws to address urban decay. Spatial development includes precinct plans for Hekpoort, Tarlton, Magaliesburg, Muldersdrift, and Zeekoeihoek, with R6m allocated to Zeekoeihoek and Maanhaarand. The Lanseria Smart City Summit, set in April, goes alongside plans for a West Rand Special Economic Zone. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
24-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Gauteng can no longer rely on economic reputation, warns MEC Maile
Lebogang Maile,Gauteng Finance MEC Lebogang Maile has sounded the alarm over the state of local government in the province, Gauteng Finance MEC Lebogang Maile has sounded the alarm over the state of local government in the province, warning that Gauteng can no longer lean on its reputation as South Africa's economic powerhouse while failing to deliver basic services to its residents. Maile was speaking on Tuesday during the official release of Gauteng's first Municipal Economic Review and Outlook (MERO) report, a wide-ranging diagnostic that paints a sobering picture of poor governance, widespread financial mismanagement, and deteriorating service delivery across the province's municipalities. 'We cannot continue to ride on the prestige of being the country's economic engine while our communities are dealing with raw sewage in the streets, unreliable electricity, and dysfunctional waste services,' Maile said. The MERO report reveals that many municipalities in Gauteng — including major metros like Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni — are facing serious performance shortfalls. These include low revenue collection rates, non-functional billing systems, escalating debt levels, and poor infrastructure maintenance. According to the report, less than 40% of municipalities in the province received clean audits, and many are struggling to pay creditors on time. 'Financial mismanagement is becoming institutionalised in some local governments,' Maile said, calling for urgent reforms. 'This report is a wake-up call.' Key findings of the MERO include: Worsening service delivery: Many municipalities have failed to meet basic standards for electricity, water, waste collection, and sanitation. Poor financial health: A growing number of municipalities are in financial distress, with ballooning debt to service providers like Eskom and Rand Water. Low economic resilience: Despite Gauteng's large contribution to national GDP, many local governments cannot support sustainable economic development in their areas. The release of the report comes at a time of growing frustration among Gauteng residents. Community protests over electricity outages, water shortages, and poor roads have become increasingly common. In recent months, political pressure has mounted for the provincial government to intervene in failing municipalities. Maile acknowledged that while provincial oversight had improved in recent years, more direct and decisive action may be required to prevent a total collapse in service delivery. He said the Gauteng Provincial Treasury will begin working more closely with municipal leadership to ensure proper budgeting, improved revenue collection, and better governance practices. 'We can no longer turn a blind eye to underperformance,' he said. 'Communities are losing hope, and if we fail to act, we risk deepening inequality and economic exclusion.' The MERO report will now inform new provincial and local government strategies aimed at revitalising local economies, stabilising finances, and restoring service delivery. Maile added that he hopes the review will become an annual fixture to promote transparency and accountability. 'This is not just a diagnostic tool,' he concluded. 'It's a call to action.'
News24
23-06-2025
- Business
- News24
Gauteng's future on the line, as Maile warns: ‘No more flying blind'
The MERO report exposes performance gaps and opportunities across Gauteng's municipalities. Maile warns that poor planning and service delivery will no longer be tolerated. Collaboration with Ernst & Young sets a new standard for provincial planning. Finance MEC Lebogang Maile has issued a warning to municipalities across Gauteng: improve planning and service delivery, or risk being left behind. Speaking at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange during the launch of the province's first-ever Municipal Economic Review and Outlook (MERO) report on Monday, Maile said the era of vague promises and poor governance must give way to data-backed accountability. 'We can no longer plan in the dark,' he said. We now have the facts; we must act on them. Lebogang Maile According to Maile, the MERO report is more than a dashboard of economic indicators. It is a tool designed to expose where municipalities are falling short on jobs, infrastructure, safety, education and housing, and where there is potential to drive inclusive growth. Maile was adamant that Gauteng's municipalities will no longer be treated as passive administrators, adding that they are expected to become active engines of development, guided by hard evidence rather than political instinct. He said: We want municipalities to become enablers of development. But they can't do that without credible data. The MERO is that data.' Behind the formal speeches was a firm subtext: local government is under pressure, and Maile intends to use the MERO as a yardstick for performance across the board. The report, developed in partnership with global consulting services Ernst & Young (EY), breaks down the province's economic health at the municipal level, tracking everything from unemployment and poverty to infrastructure and demographic change. It comes at a time when Gauteng is grappling with urgent challenges: from growing informal settlements and ageing infrastructure to violent crime and soaring youth unemployment. Gauteng contributes a third of South Africa's GDP and houses more than a quarter of the population in just 1.5% of the country's land. READ: 'DA acting like spoilt brats': Lebogang Maile slams party over 'baseless corruption claims' But Maile said the province cannot afford to lean on its economic reputation while basic service delivery continues to fail many communities. 'This isn't just South Africa's economic heart; it's a critical artery of the continent's development. And that means we must plan accordingly,' he said. The MERO is intended to help implement the Grow Gauteng Together 2030 strategy, a provincial plan focused on transformation, modernisation and reindustrialisation. But its success depends on political will at the local level. Maile was also unapologetic about the role the private sector must play in making that vision real. 'We're not interested in going it alone,' he said. 'Private sector partners have a vital role to play in shaping the future of our province, and they must do so with intention.' Institutions such as the SA Revenue Service are expected to draw on the MERO's data to enhance planning, while municipalities are under clear instruction to act on the findings. 'The MERO tells us where we're succeeding and where we're falling short. It's a call to action,' said Maile. The most critical takeaway from the report is that data must now become the language of local government, not only to identify opportunities like investment nodes or improving sectors, but also to pinpoint risks and service gaps that need urgent attention. 'The MERO is not just a report; it's a mirror, a map, and a mandate,' Maile said. 'Our shared future depends on decisions rooted in truth, not assumptions.'
