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

Making headlines: Stage 2 load-shedding to be implemented again on Wednesday evening; Poor planning, corruption leave SA municipalities open to climate disaster; And, Post Office stops distributing R350 grants, supermarkets step in

Stage 2 load-shedding to be implemented again on Wednesday evening

Stage 2 load-shedding will again be implemented on Wednesday from 17:00 to 22:00, Eskom announced. 

This morning two generation units at Hendrina power station and one at Matimba power station were taken offline for repairs. One generation unit at Arnot power station was returned to service. A generation unit each at Kusile and Tutuka power stations were expected to return to service this afternoon.

Eskom reminded the public that load-shedding is implemented only as a last resort to protect the national grid.

This will be the third time this week that Eskom has implemented load-shedding during peak hours. 

Poor planning, corruption leave SA municipalities open to climate disaster

Poor planning, historic infrastructure issues and corruption have left SA communities and municipalities unprepared for the devastation the climate crisis can wreak on the country, according to an official at the South African Local Government Association.

Salga advisor on climate change Slindile Maphumulo said that while climate change - linked to sea-level rise and extreme weather events - has a real impact on people's lives, poor infrastructure and planning have also made people more vulnerable to these impacts. "Poor planning is causing people to suffer a great deal," said Maphumulo.

South Africa's infrastructure was designed decades ago and did not consider the future climate, she explained. On the other hand, newer infrastructure is also compromised by corruption in procurement processes that may result in incompetent service providers - or those without enough experience - being appointed to deliver the infrastructure, Maphumulo highlighted.

And, Post Office stops distributing R350 grants, supermarkets step in

The South African Post Office says it will no longer distribute R350 Social Relief of Distress grants from its branches.

A new round of applications for the grants opened late last month.

The SAPO said the revised application process "now includes an option where beneficiaries can receive their grant from any Pick n Pay, Boxer, Shoprite, Checkers, or USave merchant".

SAPO added that people who have already reapplied for the SRD grant can still select the option to collect their grants from any of the partner retailers.

Grant beneficiaries who receive old age, disability or child payments from the South African Social Services Agency can still collect their grants from any Post Office branch.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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