For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: EFF wants prosecutions from Saps arrests in R360m Medicare24 scandal; Reviewed electricity pricing policy to be released for comment within weeks; And, Kenya finalises trade deal with China, president says

EFF wants prosecutions from Saps arrests in R360m Medicare24 scandal

The Economic Freedom Fighters said the arrests of 12 South African Police Service officers, linked to a R360-million Medicare24 tender, must lead to successful prosecutions, asset recovery, and the permanent removal of corrupt elements from the State.

Twelve senior Saps officers and Medicare24 director Claudette Masethe appeared in the Pretoria magistrate court today, following their arrests by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, relating to the awarding of a R360-million Medicare24 tender to a company linked to controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

The officers, many of whom reportedly sat on the bid adjudication committee, stand accused of corruption, fraud, and violations of the Public Finance Management Act after allegedly facilitating an irregular contract intended to provide health services to over 180 000 police personnel.

The EFF said the arrests affirmed its long-held view that corruption in the Saps was not isolated, but part of an entrenched network of criminality in the highest levels of law enforcement.

The EFF said while it welcomed the arrests as a necessary step towards accountability, it was cautious.

The party said the National Prosecuting Authority must ensure that this did not become one of those cases.

Reviewed electricity pricing policy to be released for comment within weeks

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said a revised electricity pricing policy will be released for public comment in the coming few weeks.

Delivering a statement to the National Assembly in relation to the steps being taken to eradicate ongoing load reduction, whereby electricity is regularly cut to areas where the network is being overloaded, the Minister acknowledged that the affordability of electricity had become a major concern for many South Africans.

The announcement comes as electricity tariffs for direct Eskom customers will rise by 8.76% on April 1, with increases of more than 9% to be applied on municipal customers from July 1.

The hike to the Eskom standard tariff is higher than the 5.36% approved for 2026/27 as part of the sixth multiyear price determination revenue decision, having been adjusted to take account of a R54.7-billion error made by the regulator when calculating Eskom’s regulatory asset base.

Besides the R12-billion in additional revenue that Eskom is now allowed to recover in the 2026/27 financial year, a further R23-billion will be recovered in 2027/28, while the R19.7-billion balance will be recouped as part of the next multiyear price determination period.

For the 2027/28 financial year, the increase for direct Eskom customers will thus be 8.83% on April 1, 2027, instead of the 6.19% outlined in the initial multiyear price determination six.

And, Kenya finalises trade deal with China, president says

Kenya has finalised negotiations over a trade deal with China, two months after announcing a preliminary agreement that would grant the East African country duty-free access to the Chinese market, President William Ruto said today.

In January Kenya said the preliminary deal would give 98% of its exports duty-free access to the large Chinese market.

East Africa's biggest economy has been forging closer ties with China, with Ruto making a state visit to Beijing last year during which a number of financing and cooperation agreements were signed. The two countries' bilateral trade is currently heavily tilted in favour of China.

Kenya is also a close ally of Washington and is negotiating a separate bilateral trade accord with the Trump administration.

Ruto has defended his administration's courting of China against criticism from some US officials, saying Kenya has to export more goods to the huge Asian economy to close the trade gap.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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