For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Shomolekae.

Making headlines: Steenhuisen urges voters to prevent ANC-EFF-MK ‘doomsday coalition’; Nersa approves revised NRS electricity loadshedding code of practice; And, Outa says omission of ‘draconian provisions’ in Intelligence Bill a victory for civil society

Steenhuisen urges voters to prevent ANC-EFF-MK ‘doomsday coalition

The Democratic Alliance is calling on voters to prevent what it terms an African National Congress-Economic Freedom Fighters-uMkhonto weSizwe party Doomsday Coalition, by voting for the DA.

Last year during the party’s Federal Congress, DA leader John Steenhuisen warned that the ANC, EFF and their proxies in small parties such as the Patriotic Alliance, were converging towards forming what he called a “doomsday coalition” after the 2024 general election.

Steenhuisen noted on Thursday EFF leader Julius Malema’s social media post which said he would “give the EFF vote to the ANC” if the party did not reach 50% of electoral support, on the condition that his deputy Floyd Shivambu becomes Minister of Finance.

Steenhuisen says with these comments, the EFF leadership has, for the first time, publicly confirmed that the DA has been right all along.

He warned that the “EFF doomsday coalition” will expropriate property without compensation and abolish private property rights, and will nationalise and destroy foreign investment, businesses, banks and mines.

Nersa approves revised NRS electricity loadshedding code of practice

The National Rationalised Specifications Association of South Africa has announced the approval of the NRS electricity loadshedding Code of Practice by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa.

This compliance mandatory code of practice for all Nersa-licensed electricity distribution utilities addresses load reduction practices, system restoration practices, critical load and essential load requirements during system emergencies.

The aim is to assist and empower various key stakeholders, including State-owned utility Eskom, municipalities and the country to mitigate the impact of potential advanced electricity loadshedding stages and prevent a national blackout or total electricity grid collapse, the association explains.

An “electricity load” connected to the national electricity grid refers to any electrical appliance, equipment or system that consumes electricity and is connected to the power supply network of a country or region.

These devices draw electrical power from the electricity grid to perform their intended functions and contribute to the overall electricity consumption on the national electricity grid, the association explains.

And, Outa says omission of ‘draconian provisions’ in Intelligence Bill a victory for civil society

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse noted that although the current version of the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill is a major improvement from previous ones and a step in the right direction, there are still some concerns for civil society organisations.

Last month, Parliament’s National Assembly adopted the new GILAB.

Outa regards the third iteration of the Bill as an improvement on the first two versions, and views the “omission of the draconian provisions” as a victory for civil society.

The organisation raised concerns with the failure of the Bill to give sufficient powers to the Auditor-General, the Inspector-General of Intelligence, and Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence to oversee the Secret Services expenditure of R4.865-billion in 2024/25.

The organisation highlighted that although the Inspector-General of Intelligence could appoint their own staff and determine the organisational structure, they still could not make legally binding decisions or recommendations.

Outa explained that this meant that their investigations into malfeasance are unlikely to lead to any form of accountability.

The Bill will now proceed to the National Council of Provinces for further consideration.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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