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

Making headlines: Eskom to borrow R4bn for diesel, parliament arson-accused Zandile Mafe refuses to go to court – again and, Ex-Steinhoff boss Markus Jooste to go on trial

Eskom to borrow R4bn for diesel

The stand-off between Eskom and the National Treasury over funding for diesel has ended with an agreement that government will support Eskom borrowing from commercial banks, should it be unable to reprioritise its own resources. 

In December, Eskom declared that it had run out of money to buy more diesel, having spent R12-billion.

While neither Eskom nor the National Treasury would comment on the agreement or the amount likely to be sought, several people with knowledge of the talks confirmed the arrangement and said that Eskom was likely to seek R4-billion to get it through February and March, after which the new financial year will begin.

Parliament arson-accused Zandile Mafe refuses to go to court – again

Parliament arson-accused Zandile Mafe has refused to go to court for a third time.

Mafe was supposed to appear in the Western Cape High Court on Friday morning for pre-trial arrangements.

Prosecutor Mervyn Menigo said he didn't even make it to the reception area from where he would have been loaded into the prison truck this morning.

The case was ultimately postponed to 10 February for consultations and to ensure that his rights were not infringed upon.

There is also a possibility that he will be referred for a psychiatric assessment again.

Ex-Steinhoff boss Markus Jooste to go on trial

German authorities have announced that the trial of former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste will start on 18 April.

A court in northern Germany has provisionally set down 10 days for the court case. 

A spokesperson did not say whether Jooste would be attending the case in person or whether he would be extradited. 

Jooste, who resigned as Steinhoff's CEO in late 2017, has been charged with accounting fraud for falsely claiming to trade "know-how" in an allegedly bogus deal in 2010. 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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