For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: Eskom attributes three stages of load-shedding to wildcat strike, IPID to investigate police conduct in Phala Phala farm theft saga and, Ghana's president asks finance minister to begin talks with IMF

 

Eskom attributes three stages of load-shedding to wildcat strike

Embattled power utility Eskom has attributed three stages of the current load-shedding, implemented daily at between Stage 4 and Stage 6, directly to the illegal strike under way at varying levels of intensity across its coal fleet.

Speaking against the backdrop of a resumption of wage talks with unions today, CEO André de Ruyter reported that 2 709 megawatts of capacity was unavailable as a direct result of the wildcat industrial action, triggered by a recent deadlock in wage talks.

Eskom’s power station workers are deemed to be essential service workers and are not allowed to strike.

De Ruyter said he had two meetings with President Cyril Ramaphosa where possible remedies to load-shedding were discussed.

 

IPID to investigate police conduct in Phala Phala farm theft saga

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate  will probe the police's part in the alleged cover-up and off-the-books investigation of the theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm, following a request from the African Transformation Movement.

Former spy boss Arthur Fraser, a close associate of former president Jacob Zuma, opened a criminal case into the saga last month, claiming that there was an attempt to cover up the theft of millions of US dollars from the Limpopo farm.

The ATM wrote to the police watchdog to ask it to investigate claims that top cops covered up the incident.

It asked the directorate to investigate newly appointed national police commissioner Fannie Masemola and his predecessor, Khehla Sitole.

For the directorate to register and investigate the matter it needs a sworn statement from Zungula "as the complainant and will, in the process, ask clarity-seeking questions".

 

Ghana's president asks finance minister to begin talks with IMF

Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo has authorized the country's finance minister to begin formal talks with the International Monetary Fund.

The cabinet indicated its support for the decision at a meeting yesterday, following a phone conversation between Akufo-Addo and the IMF's Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

The West African country's government has until now refused to seek IMF support to redress an economy crippled by rampant inflation, a depreciating currency and debt.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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