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

Making headlines: Eskom wage talks resume today; DA says Kopanong Precinct is a waste of public funds; And, Eastern Cape member says the ANC must first lead them but if it fails, they will opt for legal action

Eskom wage talks resume today

Wage negotiations between the power utility Eskom and three key trade unions will resume today after all parties agreed to go back to the negotiating table for three days of talks.

The power utility has agreed to withdraw its zero percent wage increase offer as the unions have not moved from their demands of up to 15% wage increases plus a R2 000 housing subsidy.

The unions also want to engage on issues that impact the future sustainability of Eskom such as coal costs, the impact of policy including independent power producers, and the bloated top executive structure of Eskom management.

Workers began picketing last week at Eskom power stations over stalled wage negotiations, the power utility has begun implementing load-shedding due to a shortage of capacity which is expected to last for the next week or so.

DA says Kopanong Precinct is a waste of public funds

South Africa's opposition party the Democratic Alliance today accused the ruling African National Congress of wasting public funds through the long-delayed Kopanong project to develop government offices in Johannesburg.

The Kopanong Precinct Project, formerly known as the Gauteng Provincial Government Precinct, was launched in 2003 to accommodate all government officials in 21 buildings in downtown Johannesburg.

The DA said the cost of construction had increased from an initial estimate of R2.5-billion in 2005 to R7.5-billion due to numerous delays, with the project even being shelved in 2013 due to “re-prioritisation” before it was resurrected on 2015.

The DA said in the meantime, these buildings were left to crumble and added to the decay of the inner city.

And, Eastern Cape member says the ANC must first lead them but if it fails, they will opt for legal action

An Eastern Cape ANC and Youth League member said that the party had no right to prevent its members from seeking court intervention in party matters when it hadn’t exercised its role in resolving issues itself.

The complainant is also one of the members who have taken the Eastern Cape Provincial conference matter to the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg.

The national executive committee tasked NEC member Sbu Ndebele with investigating the legitimacy of the conference and he compiled a report. The NEC opted to disregard Ndebele's report and to seek a political solution instead, which would lead to the warring factions working together.

The complainant is hoping the court will compel the NEC to implement the recommendations made.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

To keep in touch with the news while you are on the move, visit m.polity.org.za