September 17, 2014.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Shannon de Ryhove.
Making headlines:

Nersa doesn’t expect a tariff ‘reopener’ following Eskom’s bailout declaration.

Tunisian forces and militants clash near the border, with one person killed.

And, a motion of no confidence in Speaker Baleka Mbete was easily defeated after opposition parties stage a walkout.

National Energy Regulator of South Africa full-time member for electricity Thembani Bukula says the regulator isn’t anticipating an approach by Eskom for a “reopener” of the current tariff determination. This is notwithstanding National Treasury’s indication that “government will support Eskom’s application to Nersa for tariff adjustments in line with the regulatory process”.

The National Treasury made the comment in a recent statement outlining a Cabinet-endorsed package to close Eskom’s funding gap, which has been estimated at R225-billion.

Included in the package is a plan for a further equity injection. The details of this are due to be announced by Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene during the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, which will be released on October 22nd. Finance for the injection is to be raised from “leveraging non-strategic government assets”.

But the statement also stresses that tariff adjustments “remain the key mechanism that will provide the electricity supply industry with a sustainable solution.” This means that it will provide Eskom with the revenue and cash flows the utility needs to complete the current programme of building power stations, repay debt and interest thereon.

Tunisian police killed an Islamist militant during clashes near the Algerian border, the interior ministry said on Wednesday, after the government raised the security alert level before elections next month.

Since April, thousands of troops have been deployed in Tunisia's mountainous Chaambi region on the border with Algeria, where Islamist fighters – some of them linked to al Qaeda – have taken refuge.

Tunisian security forces were heightening security across the North African country with special focus in border areas monitoring arms smuggling and Islamist groups.

After an insult-laden debate, opposition leaders walked out of Parliament on Tuesday leaving the African National Congress to easily defeat their vote of no confidence in Speaker Baleka Mbete.

Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane, who opened the debate on the motion, led the walkout after ANC Chief Whip Stone Sizani sought to table an amendment, which would have seen the vote turn into one of confidence in the speaker instead.

As the DA, Economic Freedom Fighters and all other opposition parties were leaving the chamber, Sizani rose to withdraw and suggested that since there was a still a quorum – thanks to the ANC's majority – MPs should proceed to vote on the original motion.

The result was 234 against the motion of no confidence, and none in favour.

Also making headlines:

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has expressed support for the National Prosecuting Authority following their decision not to prosecute national police commissioner Riah Phiyega.

The Institute for Security Studies has pleaded with Government to release crime statistics more frequently and with more detail.

And, Africa Check proves that there is no evidence that an ewedu plant concoction can cure Ebola.

Also on Polity:

An article by the Institute for Security Studies reveals why Scottish independence matters for Africa.

And, a report by Human Rights Watch has found that many children and young people with disabilities who have lived in Russian orphanages suffered serious abuse and neglect on the part of institution staff, which impedes their development.

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines.