The Bulletin News

Energy analyst Chris Yelland (MD, EE Business Intelligence and energy advisor to OUTA) has urged South African households with rooftop solar PV or battery energy storage (BES) systems not to be intimidated by recent warnings from Eskom and some municipal electricity distributors about mandatory registration, fines and possible disconnection.

The context Since late 2025, Eskom and a number of municipalities have intensified a “Solar PV registration legal compliance campaign,” telling customers that all embedded generation systems — including residential rooftop PV systems smaller than 100 kVA — must be registered with their electricity service provider under NERSA rules. Eskom’s 14 January 2026 statement reiterated this position and warned of penalties, including fines of more than R6,000 and potential disconnection for unregistered installations. Eskom says it has simplified the process, and from 1 October 2025 allowed sign-off by a Department of Labour–registered person rather than requiring an ECSA-registered professional, framing the effort as a safety and compliance initiative.

Yelland’s view: don’t panic, do ensure proper compliance documentation Yelland describes the utility and municipal messaging and enforcement strategy as misguided, confusing and counterproductive. He warns it risks alienating law‑abiding, paying residential customers and says the approach is unlikely to succeed in the long term. His core advice to homeowners is straightforward: prioritise safe, accredited installations and keep proper documentary proof of compliance.

What homeowners should do now

• Use accredited, experienced installers for any solar PV/BES installation.
• Obtain a valid Certificate of Compliance (CoC) issued by an installation electrician who is registered with the Department of Employment and Labour (DoL). The CoC is the lawful proof that the system meets required technical and safety standards.
• Retain all installation, inspection and commissioning records, inverter settings, and any correspondence with the installer or distributor.

On registration and exporting electricity Yelland notes that homeowners who are not exporting energy to the distribution network face a different practical decision from those who do export. If your system is configured so it does not export to the grid and you hold a valid CoC, Yelland advises that you are within your rights to question or resist aggressive enforcement — but to do so while prepared with proper documentation and, if necessary, legal counsel. Homeowners who plan to export or participate in future incentive programmes should carefully consider registering to avoid disputes and to access potential benefits.

If you are threatened with disconnection According to Yelland’s guidance, customers who receive threats of disconnection should seek legal advice and formally challenge unlawful enforcement actions by their electricity distributor. Keep written records of all threats, written notices, and any communications, and present your CoC and compliance paperwork when engaging with the distributor or a lawyer.

Balancing safety, compliance and practical choices Eskom presents registration as a safety and planning measure and says the process has been simplified to make compliance more accessible. That said, Yelland emphasises homeowners should focus on the fundamentals: competent installation, a DoL‑registered electrician’s CoC, and careful documentation. Whether to register is a decision that can hinge on technical settings (export versus no-export), local regulations and how an individual household wishes to interact with its distributor and potential future programmes.

Practical next steps (quick checklist)

• Verify your installer’s accreditation and the electrician’s DoL registration.
• Secure and store your system’s CoC and commissioning paperwork.
• Confirm whether the system is set to export to the grid; if not, document this configuration.
• If contacted by Eskom or your municipality, respond in writing, provide your compliance documents, and consult legal advice if you are threatened with fines or disconnection.
• Consider registering if you want to participate in export programmes or avoid prolonged disputes.

John Steenhuisen, leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, announced on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, that he will not seek re-election as the party’s federal leader at the upcoming Federal Congress in April.

Speaking at a press briefing in his hometown of Durban, Steenhuisen confirmed earlier reports and framed his decision as a deliberate handover after achieving what he called his “DA Moonshot” mission. He credited his tenure with expanding the party’s national reach, returning the DA to outright control of the Western Cape, growing its polling support and guiding the party into the Government of National Unity (GNU).

“This is not the end of the road for the DA, and it is not the end of the road for me,” Steenhuisen said. “I today announce that I will not seek re-election for a third term as DA Federal Leader at the party’s upcoming Federal Congress. I do so with a full heart, knowing that I have accomplished my DA Moonshot mission, and that my work in government now requires me to similarly pour my heart and soul into defeating foot-and-mouth disease.”

He said the decision follows his appointment to a ministerial role focused on combating the worst outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) recorded in South Africa’s livestock, a crisis that has drawn intense pressure from farmers and civil society. Steenhuisen said he intends to devote his remaining time in office to eradicating the disease and that dividing his attention between an internal leadership campaign and the national response would be unfair to farmers.

“After leading the DA into the GNU, my next chapter must be to eradicate this devastating disease from our shores once and for all. That is not a part-time job,” he said.

Steenhuisen assured members he will remain in government as minister and pledged full support to the successor elected at the DA’s April federal congress; nominations open on February 24. His exit opens the path for rising DA figures — notably Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, who has publicly signaled leadership ambitions but had said he would not challenge Steenhuisen while he served as leader.

The leader’s announcement comes against a backdrop of internal party tensions, including public disputes with former DA Federal Finance Chair Dion George, who resigned in January amid a series of accusations against Steenhuisen. An internal probe previously cleared Steenhuisen of misuse of party funds, finding the disputed credit-card expenditure reconciled.

As minister, Steenhuisen has faced mounting criticism from farming groups and lobbyists over the government response to the FMD outbreak. This week, several farmer lobby groups took legal action accusing the minister of obstructing private-sector assistance in efforts to contain the disease — allegations that have increased scrutiny of his handling of the crisis.

Steenhuisen closed his remarks by saying he leaves the DA “a fundamentally healthier party” and urged members to back the next generation of leaders. The Federal Congress in April will elect new party leadership and mark the formal end of Steenhuisen’s tenure as DA federal leader.

The Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) warns that the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality’s unqualified audit opinion for 2024/25 should not be mistaken for financial stability or sound governance.

“An unqualified audit opinion merely indicates that the financial statements are technically acceptable; it does not conceal the scale of the municipality’s crisis,” said Aranda Nel-Buitendag Freedom Front Plus Councillor, Govan Mbeki Local Municipality, “The Auditor-General’s report and the mid-year Audit and Performance Committee report reveal serious financial distress, weak controls, widespread non-compliance and deteriorating service delivery.”

Key concerns:

• Revenue collection is only 32%.
• Unauthorised and irregular expenditure exceeds R1.2 billion for the year.
• Debt to Eskom and the water board totals more than R6.6 billion combined.
• The budget deficit has reached R733 million.
• Creditor payments are being deferred, and the AG has declared the municipality not financially sustainable.

Service delivery is failing. Although the full infrastructure budget was spent, only one-third of planned targets were achieved. Large sums are being consumed by interest and penalties, providing no value to residents. A serious environmental irregularity at the Embalenhle Wastewater Treatment Works has already caused pollution-related damage, with no effective remediation underway.

The mid-year performance report confirms poor delivery: targets are unmet and indicators fail to comply with basic performance principles. There is an absence of consequence management for financial misconduct.

The FF Plus rejects any portrayal of the municipality as healthy or compliant. The Council and municipal management must move beyond reporting and take decisive action: institute visible consequence management for financial transgressions, improve revenue collection, fully implement audit action plans, and deliver tangible improvements in service delivery.

“Govan Mbeki residents deserve more than polished reports — they deserve real, grassroots change. The Freedom Front Plus will continue to press for full accountability and for a municipality that serves the interests of its community,” concluded Aranda

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga expresses its heartfelt sympathy to the communities and farmers affected by the recent devastating floods throughout the province. However, serious concerns have been raised regarding the status and utilization of nearly R280 million allocated to assist farmers in the event of natural disasters.

In the 2025/26 financial year, Mpumalanga was allocated an additional R766.5 million through the Equitable Share. Of this amount, R351.2 million was specifically designated for disaster relief efforts, with R279.8 million earmarked for the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Land, Rural Development, and Agriculture through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP). These funds were intended to support responses to the adverse effects of recent natural disasters, particularly those impacting the agricultural sector.

Following the declaration of a National Disaster on January 18, 2026, the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture subsequently requested R165 million for flood-affected farmers. This request seems inconsistent with the existence of a disaster-related allocation that reportedly includes R279.8 million under CASP. “Given that funds were available and specifically designated for disaster response, it is only reasonable for the public to inquire: What has happened to the R351.2 million allocated for disaster relief, particularly the R279.8 million intended to support farmers impacted by these disasters?” said Tersia Marshall, MPL – DA Spokesperson for Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs

In light of the January 2026 national disaster declaration, South Africans, particularly those in rural and farming communities, rightfully anticipated prompt and effective intervention. However, reports from farmers’ groups and affected stakeholders indicate that considerable additional funding is still being sought to address the same disaster-related impacts.

This situation necessitates immediate investigation through the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) accountability mechanisms, including transparent disclosures of expenditures, disbursement timelines, beneficiary support measures, and procurement decisions related to these disaster allocations.

The DA emphasizes that disaster response must be swift, effective, and focused on those most adversely affected, free from the influence of politically connected patronage networks. It must also be supported by verifiable reporting on spending and outcomes.

Disaster relief cannot become a conduit for unaccountable expenditures while flood victims and farmers remain without substantive support. Every rand allocated must be traceable, audited, and demonstrably linked to tangible recovery outcomes on the ground.

“The DA will raise urgent questions in the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature regarding the utilization of the additional Equitable Share allocation and demand an immediate public expenditure report detailing all disaster response spending connected to both provincial allocations and any intergovernmental disaster funding streams received by the province,” concluded Tersia Marshall

The Sasol Highveld Photography Club held its eagerly anticipated January 2026 club meeting, setting a vibrant tone for the new year. The evening was a blend of celebration, planning, and knowledge sharing, highlighted by the recognition of 2025’s top photographers and a glimpse into exciting upcoming events. Johan Drotsky served as the esteemed guest judge for the evening.

The club showcased an impressive collection of 65 photographic entries for the night’s competition, spanning diverse categories: 10 in Nature, 3 in Photojournalism, 9 in Monochrome, 14 in Pictorial, 9 in Scapes, 8 in Nature – Birds Only, and 12 for the Set Subject.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to honouring the outstanding achievements of its members throughout 2025. The club celebrated the dedication and talent of its photographers, culminating in the announcement of the prestigious “Club Winners of the Year”:

2025 Club Winners Spotlight:

• Junior Winner: Yolandi Geyser
• Hostess Winner: Lorraine Botha
• Senior Winner: Peter Winnan
• Junior Set Subject Winner: Lorraine Botha
• Senior Set Subject Winner: Sussa Pelser

Category winners from both junior and senior divisions were also recognised for their exceptional work across various genres, including Monochrome, Nature, Nature – Birds Only, Photojournalism, Pictorial, and Scapes.

The club also took time to acknowledge January birthdays, with well wishes extended to Piet Potgieter (Jan 3), Danie Smit (Jan 10), and Stian Griffin (Jan 15). Members were reminded to keep their Photovault profiles updated with their birth dates.

Beyond local club activities, the Sasol Highveld Photography Club highlighted its members’ successes in national competitions. Recent results from the 7th Vanderbijlparkse Fotografiese Vereniging Salon PDI (2026) and the 7th Rustenburg PDI National Salon PDI saw numerous “Accepted” photos and Certificates of Merit awarded to club members like Sussa Pelser, DNE Smit, Johan Viljoen, Yolandi Geyser, Pierre Jordaan, and Louis van der Walt, showcasing the club’s strong presence in the broader photographic community.

Looking ahead, the club outlined several upcoming opportunities for members to engage with the Photographic Society of South Africa (PSSA):

Upcoming PSSA Salons (Closing Dates in 2026):

• 5th Bethal Digital Salon PDI (January 17)
• 2nd Highway Salon PDI (February 07)
• Ermelo Fotoklub 5th Digital Salon (February 21)
• 14th National AFO Salon (March 07)
• PSSA 29th National Up-and-Coming Photo Competition (March 14)
• SAVAS 4th Digital Salon (March 21)
• 10th PSSA NATIONAL SALON PDI (March 28)

Members were encouraged to participate in these salons to further hone their skills and gain national recognition.

The club also announced an upcoming photography event: the 46th Annual Sasol Secunda Marathon on Saturday, offering members a chance to capture dynamic action shots.

Finally, the 2026 meeting calendar with its monthly set subjects was unveiled, providing members with a clear creative roadmap for the year:

• January: Holiday
• February: Emotion
• March: Perspective
• April: Motion
• May: Forms in Nature
• June: Time
• July: Funny
• August: Night
• September: Industrial
• October: Mirror, mirror
• November: Self-Portrait
• December: Annual general meeting and braai!!!

The Sasol Highveld Photography Club looks forward to another year of fostering photographic talent, celebrating achievements, and providing engaging opportunities for its passionate members.

Here are the winning photographs for January

The best Set Subject entry is “Wave backflip” by DNE Smit

The Best Senior entry is “Garlic Display” by Leon Pelser

The Best Junior entry is “Aandete” by Edmund Hattingh

Here are the COM and GOLD certificates

Category – Nature – Birds Only

Category – Nature

Category – Pictorial

Category – Monochrome

Category – Monochrome

Catagory – Photojournalism

Category – Set Subject (Holiday)