The Committee continues to monitor the impact of the steel price on manufacturing and is awaiting a report from an Inter-departmental Committee set up to unpack the impact of the steel price on manufacturing. However, as indicated in the introduction we have begun to dig deeper into other constraints, challenges and impediments while exploring opportunities to overcome these. The most recent constraint or impediment to the manufacturing sector appears to be relatively high administered prices, particularly electricity and port tariffs. The increase in bulk energy cost by Eskom, as well as the high port charges, has a negative impact on consumers. The high electricity tariff increases implemented by municipalities appear to be cross- subsidising other municipal activities.