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

Making headlines: Scopa/SIU MoU flags Eskom intelligence, National Skills Fund reports for investigation in seventh administration; ActionSA rejects govt’s IRP, announces own plan to end loadshedding; And, Zuma’s son dumps Dubai seeking to challenge ANC

Scopa/SIU MoU flags Eskom intelligence, National Skills Fund reports for investigation in seventh administration

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts and the Special Investigating Unit have assured that the Eskom intelligence report and the National Skills Fund matters will be flagged for consideration in the seventh administration, following the dissolution of the sixth Parliament in May.

The SIU and Scopa signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen its cooperation in investigating and reporting matters relating to public funds.

The signing of the MoU assists in the formal referral of certain pressing matters from Scopa to the SIU, as the SIU does not identify specific matters to investigate.

Scopa believes that the SIU will continue to prioritise these matters, even after the dissolution of the sixth Parliament.

In fact, the SIU will ensure that in its handover report to Scopa in the seventh Parliament, these matters are flagged for consideration,” both entities said in a statement.

ActionSA rejects govt’s IRP, announces own plan to end loadshedding

ActionSA president Herman Mashaba announced today that the party’s action plan to end loadshedding will focus on unleashing the potential of independent power producers in a competitive energy market, while taking measures to fix Eskom.

Mashaba was speaking at the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy headquarters in Pretoria, while submitting the party’s comments on the draft Integrated Resource Plan 2023 ahead of the March 23 deadline.

Mashaba said he rejected the IRP in its current form as it failed to address South Africa’s energy crisis with any sense of urgency, condemning the country to loadshedding until at least 2030.

If ActionSA comes into power, it plans to end cadre deployment at Eskom, and ensure that the entity is staffed with skilled people, appointed on merit and competency, and not political affiliation.

He said ActionSA plans to combat crime in the energy system by improving security measures to protect the energy grid against cable theft and infrastructure damage. It would also shield critical services from rolling blackouts and decentralise the energy market.

He promised the establishment of a competitive energy market to open the market to IPPs to generate electricity.

ActionSA’s plan will harness solar power, transition to renewable energy and promote public participation, while also enhancing skills development.

And, Zuma’s son dumps Dubai seeking to challenge ANC

One of former President Jacob Zuma’s sons, who is known for his love of luxury cars and lavish lifestyle, has entered the political fray and founded a business-friendly party known as the All Game Changers.

After working in Dubai for eight years, Duduzane Zuma said he’s “made his money” and lived the high life. While he could have easily stayed in the United Arab Emirates, he said he returned home to focus on helping South Africa tackle its myriad challenges, including growing the economy and moving it away from becoming what he described as a “welfare state.”

The younger Zuma revealed his interest in politics when he indicated he’d challenge President Cyril Ramaphosa for the leadership of the ruling African National Congress in 2022, but he failed to garner enough support to enter the contest. He said he no longer believes the ANC is best-positioned to take the country forward, and that more business people should enter politics.

His new party will face an uphill battle to make inroads among the support base of more established rivals, and it doesn’t currently appear among the 360 parties registered with the Electoral Commission of South Africa that can participate in this year’s national elections. It also can’t count on support from Jacob Zuma, who’s cut ties with the ANC and pledged his support for the recently founded uMkhonto WeSizwe party.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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