July 16, 2015.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.
Making headlines:

Suspended Eskom executives are cleared of any wrongdoing.

At least 2 700 migrants were rescued at sea near Libya.

And, Eskom acting CEO Brian Molefe say Africa is capable of raising the money it needs for electricity.

 

Eskom announced on Wednesday that four of its senior executives who were suspended earlier this year have been cleared of any wrongdoing.

In March, chairperson Zola Tsotsi announced that four executives – CEO Tshediso Matona, finance director Tsholofelo Molefe, group capital executive Dan Marokane and technology and commercial executive Matshela Koko – were suspended so that an inquiry could take place with unfettered access to Eskom.

In a statement Eskom said that the independent inquiry found no wrongdoing.

“Three of the executives who were suspended on March 11  have since parted ways with Eskom amicably.

“There is no longer a reason to keep the remaining executive on suspension and he will return to work with immediate effect,” the statement said.

According to Eskom the report is being finalised and will be shared with government in due course.

Meanwhile, the utility also announced that it would extend acting CEO Brian Molefe's contract for a further three months and that Transnet CFO Anoj Singh will, on August 1, join Eskom as acting CFO.

 

Around 2 700 migrants were rescued from 13 boats near the coast of Libya on Wednesday, Italy's coastguard said.

A German navy vessel and a search and rescue ship deployed by medical charity Doctors Without Borders participated in the rescues along with the Italian navy and coastguard.

An estimated 150 000 migrants have reached Europe by sea so far in 2015, most of them in Greece and Italy, the International Organization for Migration said. More than 1 900 migrants have drowned in the Mediterranean, twice the toll during the same period last year.

The United Nations refugee agency said on Friday that Greece urgently needed help to cope with 1 000 migrants arriving each day.

The vast majority of the migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East depart from Libya, where human traffickers have taken advantage of a breakdown in law and order to build up a lucrative business.

 

Eskom acting CEO Brian Molefe is confident Africa will be able to raise the additional $450-billion it needs to reduce power outages by half and achieve universal electricity access in urban areas across the continent by 2040.

He said that investors had boosted their support for African megaprojects, particularly those in energy and power distribution.

A recent study by Deloitte had found that investment in African megaprojects increased by 46% to $326-billion in 2014. 

According to a recent report by McKinsey, sub-Saharan Africa will consume nearly 1 600 terawatt-hours by 2040. This is four times more than the 2010 level..

 

Also making headlines:     

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says government would like to see more South African companies expand into China.

South Africa hails the nuclear deal reached between Iran and six world powers in Vienna.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari will seek help in fighting militants across West Africa when he meets US President Barack Obama in Washington.

Cameroon bans wearing of burqas in the Far North after militant attacks there.

Amnesty International says a draft law in Egypt that would make it a crime to contradict the official version of terrorist attacks should be scrapped.

And, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has urged Burundi's government and its opponents to put aside sectarian and political differences after weeks of violent protests and days of clashes with rebels in the north.

       
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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.