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

Making headlines: South Africa's inflation rises less than expected in January; Loadshedding suspended following recovery of generation capacity; And, SANDF confirms all injured soldiers repatriated from DRC

South Africa's inflation rises less than expected in January

South African inflation edged up in January in the first release since the statistics agency updated its consumer price basket, but the headline rate remains near the bottom of the central bank's target range.

Inflation rose to 3.2% year on year in January from 3.0% in December, lower than the 3.3% forecast by economists and still well within the South African Reserve Bank's range of 3% to 6%.

Annual core inflation, which strips out volatile items, such as food and energy, came in at 3.5% in January, in line with analysts' expectations.

South Africa's central bank has cut interest rates at its last three monetary policy meetings, but its last move in January followed a split decision as it stressed the uncertain global backdrop.

Loadshedding suspended following recovery of generation capacity

Power utility Eskom suspended loadshedding at 05:00 today, following the recovery of generation capacity and the replenishment of emergency reserves.

Eskom Group CE Dan Marokane said there will be valuable lessons to be learned from the set of multiple unit trips that were unconnected and purely technical in nature related to electrical and control system issues within auxiliary parts of our power stations.

Eskom Generation executive Bheki Nxumalo points out that ongoing planned maintenance stands at 6 660 MW in alignment with the summer period maintenance strategy, which is at increased levels in order to prepare for winter and meet licence and regulatory requirements.

And, SANDF confirms all injured soldiers repatriated from DRC

The Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans has welcomed confirmation from the South African National Defence Force that all injured soldiers have been evacuated from Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, urging respectful boundaries while the injured heal.

South Africa’s soldiers are part of the Southern African Development Community mission to the DRC in Goma, where they were recently ambushed by M23 rebels, who has regrouped since 2023 and are fighting against DRC forces.

So far, 14 soldiers have lost their lives in the conflict, this amid concerns regarding the serviceability of the SANDF’s Prime Mission Equipment and mission deployment readiness.

Committee chairperson Dakota Legoete described the soldiers as heroes who withstood challenging circumstances in the face of trouble and assault.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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