For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines: Energy department admits petrol price increase was wrong; Covid cases climb by 4 373, with majority being recorded in Gauteng; And, About 700 Soweto homes in the dark after Eskom disconnects its power

Energy department admits petrol price increase was wrong

While the petrol price still went up on Wednesday, it was by 75c per litre, and not 81c as the department of mineral resources and energy incorrectly stated this week. 

The department said in a statement  that the 6 cents difference is due to the fact that the adjustment of wages for service station workers had already been implemented in September 2021.

The department apologised for any inconvenience caused.

Diesel went up 72.5c a litre and 74.5c.

Illuminating paraffin went up by 42.2c/l, while the maximum LPGas retail price increased by 183.00c/kg from today. 

Covid cases climb by 4 373, with majority being recorded in Gauteng

South Africa recorded 4 373 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, with 3 143 of those in Gauteng.

There have been 21 new Covid-19 deaths, bringing the confirmed death toll to 89 843.

Most new cases were recorded in Gauteng with 72%, followed by the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal with 6% each. Limpopo and North West accounted for 5% each; Mpumalanga 3%; the Free State 2% and the Eastern Cape 1%. The Northern Cape accounted for less than 1% of the new cases.

Gauteng recorded 3 143 new cases on Tuesday, the Western Cape 275 and KwaZulu-Natal 259.

And, About 700 Soweto homes in the dark after Eskom disconnects its power

About 700 houses in Diepkloof Zone 3, in Soweto, are in the dark after Eskom disconnected its power supply to the area.

Eskom accused residents of illegally connecting electricity to their homes and disconnected them last week.

Eskom Gauteng spokesperson Amanda Qithi said they disconnected power in the township due to high energy losses caused by illegal connections, meter bypassing and the buying of electricity from ghost vendors.

Qithi said reconnection fees of R6 052 per household had to be paid before supply could be restored to homes.

This course of action by Eskom had left many residents fuming and they vented their anger by barricading roads, including the Soweto Highway.

Qithi said seven mini-substations supplied the 700 affected houses.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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