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

Making headlines: ANC will appeal court ruling to stop “unlawful” use of its trademarks by MK Party; Ramokgopa describes IPP surpluses as low-hanging fruit amid delay in finding contractual solution; And, WHO says contaminated cough syrup in Africa no longer available

ANC will appeal court ruling to stop “unlawful” use of its trademarks by MK Party

The African National Congress announced today its intention to appeal the judgment of the High Court, in Durban, after losing another legal battle against the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe party.

The court dismissed with costs the ANC's application against the MK Party over its logo.

The ANC took the MK Party to court to stop the party from using the name and logo associated with the ANC’s military wing, formed during the apartheid era.

ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula said that the party will be appealing the matter to stop and prohibit the “unlawful” use of the ANC’s trademarks, symbols, and heritage by former ANC president Jacob Zuma’s MK Party.

The ANC had argued in court that the MK Party wanted to confuse voters ahead of the elections.

Ramokgopa describes IPP surpluses as low-hanging fruit amid delay in finding contractual solution

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa describes surplus electricity arising from existing renewable energy facilities as “low hanging fruit” in improving the supply-demand balance and reports that discussions are under way to assess ways to make this energy available to the grid.

Speaking during a regular update on the Energy Action Plan, Ramokgopa confirmed that the issue, which had been under consideration for years, had again been raised with him by the leadership of Scatec during his recent visit to the group’s Kenhardt solar-battery facility in the Northern Cape.

The hybrid Kenhardt plant comprises 540 MW of solar photovoltaic capacity and 225 MW/1.1 GWh of battery storage to provide 150 MW of dispatchable electricity daily.

However, it is restricted, owing to the design of the much-criticised risk-mitigation procurement programme, from delivering any surplus solar electricity into the grid.

It is understood that this results in up to 30% of the plant’s solar generation being lost to the system. This despite the threat of daily loadshedding, which has eased somewhat in recent weeks, with Eskom having refrained from implementing rotational cuts for 26 days at the time of the briefing.

And, WHO says contaminated cough syrup in Africa no longer available

A contaminated batch of Benylin Paediatric Syrup is no longer available in the African countries where it was sold, the World Health Organization said today.

Earlier this month, Nigeria recalled a batch of the children's cough and allergy medicine after tests found that it contained unacceptable levels of the toxin, diethylene glycol.

Five other African countries have also pulled the product from shelves - Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa, where the drug was made.

The recalled batch of Benylin syrup was made by Johnson & Johnson in South Africa in May 2021, although Kenvue now owns the brand after a spin-off from J&J last year.

In an emailed statementlast week, Kenvue said it had carried out tests on the batch recalled by Nigeria and had not detected either diethylene or ethylene glycol, but was continuing to work with the authorities.

No children have been reported hurt or killed in the latest incident.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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