South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Monday 23 December

Stay up to date with all the latest news in South Africa by reviewing major headlines on Monday 23 December.

As South Africans prepare to celebrate the festive season with family and friends, law enforcement agencies are keeping a close eye on traffic volumes as the ‘Christmas rush’ reaches its climax. Eskom’s operational capacity also comes under the microscope with the early arrival of a new CEO.

Today’s latest news in South Africa, Monday 23 December

Can Eskom uphold the President’s promises?

Attention, once again, is focused on South Africa’s embattled power utility, Eskom, following a dismal start to December. Load shedding, as a result of poor maintenance programs, adverse weather conditions and the management debacles, made a debilitating return earlier this month, lasting for more than two weeks and bleeding more than R30 billion from the already-ailing economy.

Andre de Ruyter, who was due to take up his position as CEO of Eskom on 13 January, has been persuaded to join the utility early than first expected. This is in line with president Cyril Ramaphosa’s promise to the nation, that there will be no load shedding over the Christmas period and into the New Year. De Ruyter, whose appointed has been met with mixed reactions, will begin work on 25 December.

December’s road death toll climbs

Notoriously the deadliest period on South Africa’s roads, December has already been marred by carriageway carnage. According to Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, who is expected to release a preliminary report on the festive season’s traffic fatalities later today, at least 80 people have died on the country’s roads since the beginning of December.

Traffic volumes are expected to increase dramatically this week in the lead up to Christmas day. Mbalula has vowed to intensify the Festive Season Road Safety Campaign – by redoubling roadblocks and other law enforcement strategies – but has also urged motorists to be especially cautious during this period.

Major highways – including the N1, between Johannesburg and Cape Town, the N3, between Gauteng and Durban, and N2, through the Eastern Cape – are going to see an upsurge in traffic and congestion. Eastern Cape  Provincial transport spokesperson, Unathi Binqose, said:

“The volume of traffic has increased significantly particularly on those routes linking us to other provinces, your R61 from the Western Cape as well as the N2 via the Garden Route, you can see a number of taxis there faring people home.”

Increased police presence at border posts

Combined law enforcement efforts, including the South African Police Service (SAPS), Home Affairs and the SA Revenue Service (SARS), have been intensified at major border crossings in preparation for the festive season surge.

According to Home Affairs Director of Ports of Entries, Stephen van Neel, the Beitbridge border post in Musina – a post between Zimbabwe and South Africa – has recorded some of the highest traffic volumes in the last week. Van Neel estimated that 30 000 travellers had been processed at Beitbridge since Monday 16 December. Van Neel condemned the reckless actions of some motorists, saying:

“Musina and Beitbrigde always cause chaos on the high and also on the N1 and we want to appeal to everybody to stay on their lane.”

Violence on the Cape Flats

Despite continued operations lead by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in crime-ridden areas of the Western Cape, gang violence still haunts the Cape Flats.

Gang violence erupted in various Cape Flats neighbourhoods earlier in December, with fears that tensions will escalate and result in a bloody Christmas. Elsies River, Mitchells Plain, Manenberg and Bonteheuwel have all been rocked by gang shootings in recent weeks.

The recent assassination of former Hard Livings leader, Rashied Staggie, has added to concerns of retaliatory attacks

Police spokesperson, Mihlali Majikela, confirmed that police presence on the Cape Flats will be intensified over the Christmas period to ensure the safety of citizens.

Parliament condemns initiation deaths

The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) has called for an investigation into the deaths of 21 boys at an initiation school in the Eastern Cape.

According to media reports, the boys died due to dehydration.

The committee condemned the deaths of the boys as it took place due to negligent application of restriction of water to the initiates on cultural grounds.

Latest weather forecast, Monday 23 December

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Live traffic updates for Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban

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Horoscope today

Free daily horoscope, celeb gossip and lucky numbers for Monday 23 December.