For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: Conditions linked to R254bn Eskom debt relief may lead to concessioning of coal plants, Cape Town plans contingencies against more loadshedding as power crisis worsens and, Dukwana ANC's preferred Free State premier candidate, says Mbalula

Conditions linked to R254bn Eskom debt relief may lead to concessioning of coal plants

The R254-billion Eskom debt-relief package unveiled by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in his 2023 Budget includes a sweeping set of conditions that will restrict the State-owned utility’s capital expenditure to transmission- and distribution-related investments.

Godongwana added that the package could also result in coal-fired power stations being concessioned to private operators.

In addition, the National Treasury confirmed that the package had been proposed with the assumption that the recent tariff increases of 18.65% in 2023/24 and 12.74% in 2024/25 approved by the regulator would be implemented, as “without these increases, the debt-relief arrangement is not sustainable”.

This, despite an appeal made by President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year for the hikes to be postponed or moderated.

Eskom’s debt currently stands at R423-billion.

Cape Town plans contingencies against more loadshedding as power crisis worsens

The City of Cape Town is pulling out all the stops to protect residents in the event Eskom implements Stage 8 loadshedding.

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said during Stage 8 loadshedding, half the metro would be left without power at any given time – at least 12 hours a day. 

He said the City has already activated its disaster operational centre to coordinate the current impact of sustained high stages of loadshedding.

In the event of Stage 8 or higher, the responsibilities of the  operational centre will be extended to maintaining the operations of essential services like water, electricity, health, waste and transport

Dukwana ANC's preferred Free State premier candidate, says Mbalula

The ANC has settled on newly elected Free State chairperson Mxolisi Dukwana as its preferred premier candidate after Sisi Ntombela's resignation as premier.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said that given the vacancy that would arise from the resignation of Ntombela, national officials were "of the view that comrade Mxolisi Dukwana is the preferred ANC candidate for the position of premier of the Free State".

The three premier candidates were interviewed on Friday after the provincial ANC decided to recall Ntombela at its recently held lekgotla. 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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