Good morning. Today we’re covering Eskom’s escalation of load shedding, the power utility is being extorted for protection money from gangsters, and Tembisa residents say they are struggling to pay for rising municipality rates.
Eskom to escalate power cuts after 11-day pause – Times LIVE
After nearly two weeks without load shedding, Eskom flipped the switch yesterday and brought the country back into darkness as stage two power cuts kicked in.
The power utility will escalate power cuts today as we move from stage two to stage four with a further breakdown in generation capacity, says the power utility.
Government efforts to aid the failing power utility have been slow and this year South Africa is set to hit a record level of electricity cuts from the grid. Read more here.
Eskom leaves Khayelitsha after gangsters demand protection cash – Scrolla
Parts of the Western Cape township have been without power since Sunday after Eskom pulled its workers from the township after gangsters began threatening the power utility’s employees, demanding protection money.
Until recently, local gangs had only been targeting foreign national informal traders but have since turned their sights to something more lucrative.
Acting general manager for Eskom, Mbulelo Yedwa, said gangs have warned Eskom that they will need to pay a protection fee of R20,000 a month or else they need to leave the area. Read more here.
We are really drowning here – Tembisa residents – Sowetan LIVE
Tembisa residents say they are struggling to make ends meet after some found out they had been struck off the Ekurhuleni municipality’s indigent programme.
This week protests broke out in the suburb that led to violence and infrastructure damage while four people were also killed. Electricity issues also led to an escalation of the protests.
Ekurhuleni mayor Tania Campbell has failed to meet with residents so far to explain why the indignant programme has been scrapped but Campbell says it has not been canned but rather strengthened. She is due to meet with the community on Friday. Read more here.
Here’s what else we’re reading today:
Rolling blackouts could be extended into the weekend: Eskom – SABC News
‘We shouldn’t frown about protests, but don’t burn things’ – Maile on Tembisa shutdown – The Citizen
Witness says Mkhwebane never instructed him to remove content from reports – EWN
Joburg MMC has ‘endangered the lives of Seri staff’, says justice department – News24
Bar Bain & Co from SA government work until it makes full disclosure, says whistle-blower Athol Williams – Daily Maverick
KwaZulu-Natal floods cost sugar growers a quarter of a billion – it’s hurting SA’s snacks industry – Business Insider
Elon Musk’s Twitter countersuit due by Friday as acrimony grows – SABC News
Mango rescue moves ahead as bidder delivers proof of funding – Fin24
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