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

Making headlines: Load-shedding blamed on broken conveyor belt at Medupi; Batohi says students need to be responsible and can't burn libraries or try to burn a police car; And, Mozambique counts votes after polls seen as test of peace deal

 

Load-shedding blamed on broken conveyor belt at Medupi

Eskom has blamed the severe power constraints in South Africa, and which is triggering Stage 2 load-shedding, on a broken coal conveyor belt at the Medupi power station.

In addition, five electricity generating units are unavailable due to boiler tube leaks. The utility also said that there are delays in the return to service of units that are on planned maintenance and it is struggling with a limited diesel supply.

Since Saturday, Eskom has used pumped storage and open cycle gas turbines "extensively" to make up for this electricity shortfall, but now dam and diesel levels are running low.

 

Batohi says students need to be responsible and can't burn libraries or try to burn a police car

Students have to behave responsibly and expect consequences if they try to set alight a police vehicle with people in it, National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi has said.

She addressed the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services on Tuesday.

A day before, the #FeesMustFall activist Kanya Cekeshe failed in his bid to have his conviction and eight-year sentence dismissed.

Cekeshe was convicted of public violence and malicious damage to property after he tried to set a police van alight during the protests.

He is serving an eight-year sentence in Leeuwkop Correctional Services in Bryanston.

 

And, Mozambique counts votes after polls seen as test of peace deal

Vote counting has begun in Mozambique after key parliamentary, presidential and provincial elections that President Filipe Nyusi said should help anchor peace in the southern African nation. 

Acceptance of the results of Tuesday's elections are seen as a key test of a peace deal signed in August between the ruling Frelimo party and its old civil-war-foe-turned-political-rival, Renamo. 

The ceasefire agreement brought a formal end to hostilities, almost three decades after the end of a 15-year civil war that killed an estimated one million people. 

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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