For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lynne Davies.

Making headlines: Hospitals rely on tankers and boreholes as water issues continue to plague Gauteng, big diesel, petrol price hikes on the cards for October and, Chinese loans to Africa plummet to near two-decade low

Hospitals rely on tankers and boreholes as water issues continue to plague Gauteng

Water supply issues affecting three hospitals in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni have not yet been resolved.

However, all's not lost because the situation has stabilised.

This is according to Gauteng health department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba.

He said water supply at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital was still intermittent and that the facility was relying on roving water tankers from Johannesburg Water and its borehole.

Clinical areas are continuing to render services to patients.

Modiba said Helen Joseph Hospital, however, has good water pressure and is receiving water "from an alternative line through the Brixton tower".

Pholosong Hospital in Ekurhuleni started receiving water from the municipal supply on Monday, but the facility does not yet have maximum water pressure.

Big diesel, petrol price hikes on the cards for October

Based on the current oil and rand prices, the latest data from the Central Energy Fund shows that diesel prices may be hiked by around R2 a litre, depending on the grade.

Petrol 95 and 93 unleaded could be increased by R1.23 a litre and R1.15c, respectively.

This will push fuel prices to levels last seen in July last year, the Automobile Association said.

However, there is still some time to go before the final prices are set.

Fuel prices will only be adjusted on 4 October.

Chinese loans to Africa plummet to near two-decade low

Chinese sovereign lending to Africa fell below $1-billion last year - the lowest level in nearly two decades - underscoring Beijing's shift away from a decades-long big ticket infrastructure spree on the continent.

The drop in lending reflected in data from Boston University's Global China Initiative comes as several African nations struggle with debt crises and China's own economy faces headwinds.

Africa has been a focus of President Xi Jinping's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, launched in 2013 to recreate the ancient Silk Road and extend China's geopolitical and economic influence through a global infrastructure development push.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA