South Africa

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided against changing the repo rate, opting to keep it at the current 3.5% per annum.

Eskom says it will implement Stage 2 load shedding from 4pm to 9pm this evening.

KwaZulu-Natal Human Settlements and Public Works MEC, Jomo Sibiya, says despite legislative and policy interventions to eradicate inequalities in ownership of property, in practice, skewed patterns of ownership, participation and benefit remain.

Due to the severely cold weather in parts of the country, coupled with the loss of some generation capacity, Eskom has warned that it may be forced to implement load shedding at short notice.

However, according to the power utility, it will only implement power cuts should there be any further generation losses.

“The system is currently severely constrained and it is anticipated that towards the evening peak, the system will come under additional pressure due to high electricity demand,” the State-owned entity explained.

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has appointed a panel to assist government to address the challenge of unity and leadership in the taxi industry.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that the funeral of Ikosi Sipho Mahlangu will be conducted in line with protocols of the Special Official Funeral Category 1, which includes military honours.

The Portfolio Committee on Police says it is steadfast that the executive will be held accountable for security lapses during the looting, violence and destruction of property that affected KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane, has refuted widespread reports concerning the number of bodies that are being kept at the Phoenix Medico-Legal Mortuary (MLM).

The Department of Water and Sanitation has warned that water levels in the country’s dams in the different provinces, continues to dwindle week-on-week amidst the dry winter season.

Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, and the MEC for Transport and Public Works, Daylin Mitchell, have met with the management of Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) to ensure more public transport capacity is brought into the system.

According to the Premier, Golden Arrow CEO, Francois Meyer, advised him that the bus service is continuing to bring more of its fleet online.

This follows the disruption of major public transport routes in Cape Town due to taxi violence that has been ongoing for months.