For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines: Load-shedding jumps to Stage 4; Ramaphosa says SA must increase investment in climate adaptation measures; And, Corruption Watch urges transparency around flood relief funds

Load-shedding jumps to Stage 4

Eskom has announced that load-shedding has immediately jumped to Stage 4 on Tuesday morning after more generation units failed. 

The power utility said the jump from Stage 2 happened at 7:20 after Majuba Unit 5 and Tutuka Unit 4 tripped. 

Eskom did not say when the load-shedding will end.

Eskom initially started with overnight Stage 2 load-shedding early last week, before more unit failures at various power stations led to full-time shedding until Friday morning. There was a slight reprieve until Sunday, when Stage 2 was needed again. 

Ramaphosa says SA must increase investment in climate adaptation measures

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a National State of Disaster following widespread flooding in KwaZulu-Natal, saying the country needs to increase its investment in climate adaptation measures to better safeguard communities against the effects of climate change.

Over the last week, communities along parts of the country’s eastern coast have been devastated by catastrophic flooding. On April 11 and 12, parts of KwaZulu-Natal received between 200 mm and 400 mm of rainfall in 24 hours.

He said the floods were a tragic reminder of the increasing frequency of extreme weather conditions as a result of climate change.

Ramaphosa acknowledged the need for government to pursue emission reduction targets for South Africa through a just transition.

And, Corruption Watch urges transparency around flood relief funds

Corruption Watch executive director Karam Singh has called for “absolute transparency” and full disclosure of how R1-billion in flood relief funds are being distributed.

Singh said the need to monitor the disbursement of funds was as critical as ever.

He said widespread perceptions of corruption in the eThekwini municipality over the years had not instilled confidence in local government structures, or its commitment to addressing the needs of the most vulnerable communities in the city.

Singh explained that the best way to ensure that funds are correctly allocated and spent was to have systems in place that allow government, oversight bodies and civil society to monitor the allocations and spending.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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