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

Making headlines: Water consumption in Gauteng decreases; Politicians mourn passing of Athol Fugard; And, Congo ex-president Kabila's allies to be questioned by military prosecutor

Water consumption in Gauteng decreases

The Gauteng Water Security Dashboard shows that overall water consumption across Gauteng has decreased, however, the levels remain above the water use efficiency targets in all metropolitans except Ekurhuleni.

According to the dashboard, which is published weekly, the City of Ekurhuleni used 994-million litres a day of water, 28-million litres below its water use efficiency target of 1 022-million and a reduction on the 1 048-million litres a day monthly average reported in the February edition of the dashboard.

Water consumption in the City of Johannesburg also reduced from a monthly average of 1 708-million litres a day, as reported in February, to 1 676-million litres in the first week of March, however, the metropolitan still remained 320-million litres above its water use efficiency target.

During the same period, consumption in the City of Tshwane was 855-million litres a day, 131-million litres over its target and an increase from the 796-million litres a day monthly average achieved during February.

Emfuleni, meanwhile, used 308-million litres, which, while a decrease from the monthly average of 316-million litres in February, was still 69-million litres above its water use efficiency target.

Overall demand across the three metropolitans and Emfuleni, which collectively constitute 90% of the water supply, was 485-million litres, or 15%, above target.

Politicians mourn passing of Athol Fugard

Following the passing of dramatist, novelist and actor Athol Fugard, politicians have expressed their sadness, with the Economic Freedom Fighters calling on government to reopen the Fugard Theatre, in District Six, in Cape Town, following what it calls its “shameful closure” in March 2021.

Fugard passed away on Sunday at the age of 92.

The EFF said Fugard’s career as a playwright was defined by his commitment to “exposing the brutal realities of apartheid, giving voice to those silenced by a racist and oppressive system”.

The EFF urged stakeholders to invest in local theatre, creatives and movements in townships, institutions of higher learning and broader society.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the Fugard Theatre is a “fitting tribute to a man whose life and works have left an indelible footprint, and that will continue to inspire generations of creative professionals for time to come”.

Ramaphosa lauded Fugard as “an extraordinary storyteller in extraordinary times, and the moral conscience of a generation”.

And, Congo ex-president Kabila's allies to be questioned by military prosecutor

Officials from the party of Democratic Republic of Congo's former President Joseph Kabila have been invited to appear before a military prosecutor on Monday in a sign of political tensions over Rwanda-backed rebels' advances in the east.

The exact reason for the invitations was not clear, said Jean Mbuyu, a lawyer for the officials and former security advisor to Kabila.

But President Felix Tshisekedi, who once formed an awkward power-sharing deal with Kabila, has recently accused him of sponsoring the M23 rebels who have seized east Congo's two biggest cities since January.

Kabila has also reached out to opposition politicians and civil society members to discuss the country's political future, amid criticism of Tshisekedi's response to M23's military campaign.

The military prosecutor's office sent about 10 invitation letters to members of Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, though only three people were expected to appear for questioning in the capital Kinshasa today, Mbuyu said.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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