
While South Africa has marked 340 days without load shedding, thousands of households in Gauteng are still experiencing daily power outages due to Eskom’s load reduction program. Eskom differentiates load reduction from load shedding, explaining that load reduction targets specific communities affected by illegal connections and aging infrastructure, unlike load shedding which is a national measure for insufficient generation capacity. The utility's load reduction program involves rotating schedules, with some areas facing outages of up to four or five hours. This week, various regions across Gauteng will experience power cuts during both morning 5am to 9am and evening 5pm to 10pm windows. Affected areas include Moroka, Dhlamini, Tsakane, GaRankuwa, Winterveldt, Tlhabologo, Mabopane, Tsebe, Odinburg Gardens, Klippan, Kagiso, Protea City, Diepkloof zones 1 to 6, Spruit View, Orlando East, Tshepiso, Chiawelo, Diepsloot, Cosmo City, South Roodepoort, Zandspruit, Nomzamo, Langaville, and City of Johannesburg Lakeside, among others. Eskom aims to eliminate load reduction entirely by 2027 through a phased program targeting 971 feeders and approximately 1.69 million customers. Key interventions include the rollout of smart meters, integration of Distributed Energy Resources, expansion of free basic electricity support, and customer education initiatives. Eskom noted that despite the underlying issues, the power system remains stable and generation capacity exceeds demand, with South
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Must ReadANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula stated that the ANC is not responsible for the election of some controversial mayors in the City of Johannesburg, attributing this to the current era of coalition politics in South Africa. Speaking in Johannesburg, Mbalula highlighted that the ANC sometimes has no alternative but to negotiate with other parties in municipalities, even if it means supporting candidates from smaller parties. He noted the fragility of coalition politics in Johannesburg, which has seen multiple mayors since the 2021 local government elections, including Mpho Moerane, Mpho Phalatse, Thapelo Amad, Kabelo Gwamanda, and current mayor Dada Morero. Mbalula mentioned that the ANC and its partners elected Amad as mayor in 2023, but he was later asked to resign due to allegations of incompetence. He also referenced a similar situation in the City of Ekurhuleni where a mayor from a small party was removed for inefficiency. Mbalula indicated that both the DA and ANC now support new legislation for a threshold in coalition arrangements to reduce the likelihood of small party candidates holding mayoral positions, a proposal smaller parties are rejecting. He added that the ANC aims for an outright majority rather than coalition governance. Regarding the appointment of the EFF's Nkululeko Dunga as Gauteng's Finance MEC, Mbalula asserted that the ANC is not to blame, as coalition partners provide their own candidates.
Must ReadPolice portfolio committee chairperson Ian Cameron has called for the urgent suspension of National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola and the appointment of an independent acting commissioner. This follows Masemola facing four charges related to the Public Finance Management Act concerning a R360 million South African Police Service Saps health service tender. Masemola appeared in court, with his matter postponed until May 13. Cameron stated that Masemola's legal troubles reflect poorly on the police service and contribute to instability, especially with an acting police minister also in limbo. He emphasized the need for a replacement who has not been involved in the Madlanga Commission or ad hoc committee, highlighting that Masemola is the third national police commissioner in less than two decades to face criminal charges. Cameron stressed that the executive's indecision has weakened public confidence and blurred accountability within Saps, urging President Cyril Ramaphosa to act decisively to restore institutional integrity and ensure leadership with an unquestionable track record.
Must ReadHigher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela highlighted South Africa's deepening youth crisis, revealing that 3.4 million young people are neither employed nor engaged in education or training. Speaking at the Inside Education Summit, Manamela described this figure as a "lived reality" reflecting a failing system. He emphasized that the challenge extends beyond unemployment, calling it a "crisis of pathways" where the education system struggles to transition young people from learning to earning. The minister noted that the system is "leaking" at critical points, from early childhood development to labor market entry. Manamela pointed out that despite increased investment in early childhood development, only 42% of children are developmentally on track by age five, indicating that inequality is produced early in life. He advocated for a shift from producing job-seekers to job creators, mentioning that all 50 public TVET colleges now offer entrepreneurship programs, with over 47,000 students participating in 2024. However, he cautioned that entrepreneurship needs a structurally open economy to thrive. Manamela also addressed the shortage of skilled artisans, with only about 20,000 produced annually against a demand for 30,000. The government aims to increase artisan training registrations to 37,000 this year. He stressed that fragmentation across the education and training system is a major obstacle, calling for stronger coordination among government, industry, and ci
Must ReadThe Department of Basic Education has extended the deadline for public comment on the draft History Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement for Grades 4 to 12 by an additional 30 days. Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube approved the extension, moving the closing date for submissions from April 19, 2026, to May 19, 2026. This decision was made due to significant public interest in the proposed changes, underscoring the openness of the process and ensuring that public voices will shape the final product. The department encourages all interested parties to use this additional time to engage meaningfully with the document and submit their inputs. All submissions received by the revised deadline will be considered in shaping the final curriculum, which aims to strengthen students’ analytical skills and broaden their understanding of the past, fostering critical thinking and an appreciation for multiple perspectives on South Africa’s history in relation to the wider world.