May 04, 2016.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.
Making headlines:

South Africa rating downgrades could lead to capital outflows.

New chicken row brewing in South Africa.

And, Edna Molewa says SA companies need to prepare for carbon quotas system.

Any further ratings downgrade of South Africa could lead to increased capital outflows, the South African Reserve Bank said yesterday.

Ratings agencies had warned of possible ratings cuts should Pretoria show a lack of commitment to reining in its budget deficit.

The warnings came after President Jacob Zuma changed finance ministers twice in less than a week in December, initially replacing Nhlanhla Nene with a little known politician before recalling Pravin Gordhan to the post to calm markets after a run on the rand and bonds.

Standard & Poor's and Fitch rated South Africa a notch above sub-investment grade, while Moody's had it two notches above.

Following the concessions on US imports to South Africa in January this year, another chicken storm is brewing as local poultry producers face harsh punishment if they fail to comply with new brine limits.

The poultry industry has six months to adjust to new maximum levels of brine, a fluid, which according to the industry, is injected into chicken and other meat products to retain succulence and flavour.

The long anticipated amendment, which was announced in January 2014, was published in the Government Gazette in April.

Spokesperson for Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Senzeni Zokwana, Bomikazi Molapo said poultry products found not compliant with the regulations would not be allowed for sale in South Africa.

South African companies need to start planning for 2021 when they would become liable for penalties for exceeding carbon emission quotas, the environmental affairs department stressed yesterday.

Minister Edna Molewa  said companies don’t want to be found wanting when 2020 arrives. 

Molewa told a media briefing ahead of her budget vote speech in the National Assembly, a fortnight after 175 countries inked the Paris Agreement to fight climate change.

Molewa said her department had begun domestic ratification process to prepare for the agreement entering into binding force the following year.

Also making headlines:

Edna Molewa said plans were on track to integrate waste pickers into municipalities.

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today