January 22, 2015.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.
Making headlines:

President Jacob Zuma says South Africa’s electricity infrastucture was not designed to serve 11-million households.

African nations threatened by Nigeria's Boko Haram seek UN Security Council authorisation for a multinational force.

And, South Sudan’s ruling party rivals sign a peace deal in Tanzania.

 

South African President Jacob Zuma told the World Economic Forum delegates in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland that the country’s electricity infrastructure wasn’t designed to serve 11-million households.

He said the extension of electricity to more households that had been previously excluded, coupled with a growing economy, have sharply put pressure on the infrastructure, which needed improved maintenance and expansion.

Zuma told delegates that South Africa was currently considering options to increase the available electricity generation capacity and to manage the demand over the next six months in order to reduce the risk of rolling blackouts. These included Eskom’s new build programmes at Medupi, Kusile and Ingula, as well as the procurement of 4 000 megawatts from the Independent Power Producers.

 

African nations threatened by Nigeria's Boko Haram will seek United Nations Security Council authorisation for a multinational force to take on the Islamist militants.

Niger’s foreign Minister Mohamed Bazoum said the countries of the Lake Chad region had agreed that the resolution would be presented to the UN by the African Union.

Boko Haram, which is fighting to create an Islamic emirate in northern Nigeria, has increasingly made incursions into neighbouring Cameroon and is also threatening the stability of the region that includes Niger and Chad.

Mistrust and disagreements between the states has, however, hampered attempts to pool military resources.

South Sudan's warring factions signed a deal in Tanzania on Wednesday meant to serve as a roadmap toward ending a conflict that has killed thousands of people in the world's newest state.

Fighting erupted in December 2013 in South Sudan after months of rising tension between President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy Riek Machar. A ceasefire signed in January has been broken frequently and the peace talks often stalled. South Sudan declared independence from Sudan in 2011.
The agreement, aimed according to its text at "reunifying and reconciling" the three factions of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, was signed in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha. It was mediated by regional leaders.

Also making headlines:

Gauteng Provincial Treasury and the Department of Roads and Transport has revealed the names of the 12 bidders for the Cedar road upgrade tender.

Tshwane Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa says the refurbishment of the inner city had been delayed due to contrcatual problems. 

And, a parliament set up in Libya to rival the elected assembly has suspended UN-sponsored peace talks because of what it called fresh violence from the country's recognised government.

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.