South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Tuesday 4 February

Never miss a beat when it comes to the latest news in South Africa; be sure to review all major headlines on Tuesday 4 February.

As Eskom’s disastrous load shedding schedule continues to baffle and frustrate South Africans, former president Jacob Zuma pleads ‘ill-health’ ahead of his corruption trial and manages to evade the dock. In sports news, the Blitzboks close the gap on New Zealand in the World Rugby Sevens Series log, despite finishing second in Sydney on Sunday.

Today’s latest news in South Africa, Tuesday 4 February

Eskom’s load shedding schedule confusion

In addition to not being able to supply South Africa with adequate power, Eskom has caused confusion by chopping and changing load shedding schedules which are set to intensify before the week is done.

On Sunday evening, Eskom announced that Stage 2 load shedding would persist until Thursday 6 February, with the blackouts following a new format intended to offer South Africans ‘a reprieve’. The schedules delivered by the embattled utility caused confusion and outrage. Eskom eventually offered an apology for the mix-up, which was met with further disdain.

On Monday, Eskom added another ‘exception’ to the schedules, announcing that it would halt load shedding between 16:00 and 18:00 to mitigate chaos on the roads during rush hour traffic. Still, South Africans will be burdened by load shedding six times over a four-day period for two hours at a time, or six times over an eight-day period for four hours at a time.

Zuma’s ‘sickness’ puts corruption trial on the back foot

Jacob Zuma’s corruption trial will move ahead, despite the former president being ‘too ill’ to attend proceedings and allegedly seeking treatment in Cuba. Zuma’s legal time is expected to file for a postponement, citing their client’s ill-health, at the Pietermaritzburg High Court this morning.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Bulelwa Makeke, confirmed that Zuma would not attend court proceedings but noted that the former president’s application to be excused as a result of ‘ill-health’ was to be scrutinised by the presiding judge.

Zuma, along with French arms company Thales, is charged with racketeering, fraud, corruption and money laundering in relation to the infamous Arms Deal saga of 1999.

Home Affairs extends working hours in February

The Department of Home Affairs says it will extend operating hours at all modernised offices until 19h00 from today until 28 February 2020.

This means that Home Affairs offices will serve clients from 08h00 in the morning until 19h00 in the evening on weekdays, for the whole month, excluding weekends.

“The department will ensure that everyone who is inside an office at the time of closing receives the service they require.

“Office managers/supervisors are to apply their discretion to close the office 30 minutes prior to knock-off time, subject to the number of people being served. This is to allow officials to conclude all the necessary work before 19h00.”

“The department encourages people intending to visit our offices to do so as early as they can on their preferred day,” the department said in a statement.

Applications for and collection of smart ID cards and passports will be prioritised during the extended operating hours. (Source: SAnews)

A ‘new’ electricity supply on the horizon?

South Africa’s Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe on Monday, said the government was in the process of gazetting a revised schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act, which will enable self-generation, and facilitate municipal generation options under “Distributed Generation”.

This, according to Mantashe, would help close the energy gap caused by power utility, Eskom’s deteriorating plant performance.

“Depending on the circumstances, the generation plant may only require registration and not licensing,” he said.

He said that economic growth and sustainability are bolstered in an environment of a secure and reliable electricity supply. (Source: ANA)

Highly rated SA youth international completes move to Europe

Supersport United rising star Luke le Roux is set for an overseas stint, after completing a move to Swedish outfit, Varbergs BolS.

The 19-year-old’s new club compete in Sweden’s top flight, after recently achieving promotion from the Superettan.

It was confirmed by the club on Monday that the player has signed a four-year deal, joining several compatriots in the Allsvenskan.

We made a huge step-up – Blitzbok forward Dry

The Springbok Sevens team will arrive in South Africa on Monday with mixed feelings after delivering pleasing performances at the Sydney Sevens, but being left frustrated that they could not leave Australia as champions.

The Blitzboks were edged 12-10 by Fiji in the final of the fourth tournament on the World Rugby Sevens Series this past weekend, but Chris Dry (veteran forward) says this was the one that got away.

Dry, who made his 33rd appearance in a final for the Blitzboks, said one of the contributing factors to the outcome was that they did not adapt well enough to the treacherous conditions at Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta.

“That was probably our downfall, as they adapted better to the wet conditions and looked after their ball better in the rain and on the slippery field,” said Dry.

“We did not look after our possession well enough and that was the difference in the end.” (Source: ANA)

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