For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: Environment Minister Dion George set to lose his post; Eskom celebrates Koeberg Unit 2’s 40 years of commercial operation; And, Guinea coup leader Doumbouya cleared to run for president

Environment Minister Dion George set to lose his post

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dion George looks likely to lose his post after his party, the Democratic Alliance, proposed that he be replaced by its spokesperson, Willie Aucamp.

George was asked to become deputy trade minister, “but he didn’t see that as an option for himself” and lawmaker Alexandra Abrahams had been recommended for that position, DA leader John Steenhuisen said in an interview today, adding that a final decision will rest with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The DA joined a 10-member coalition government led by the African National Congress after last year’s elections failed to produce an outright winner and was allocated six cabinet posts. The DA’s federal executive committee had decided on the new appointees to the government, Steenhuisen said.

Ramaphosa fired the DA’s Andrew Whitfield as deputy trade minister in June for travelling abroad without permission, and his post has stood vacant since then.

Eskom celebrates Koeberg Unit 2’s 40 years of commercial operation

Power utility Eskom on November 9 celebrated the 40-year anniversary of Unit 2 at the Koeberg nuclear power station.

Koeberg Unit 2 entered commercial operation on November 9, 1985, with Eskom saying it has been a cornerstone of the country’s energy system.

This follows after Koeberg Unit 1 celebrated its 40-year anniversary on July 21, 2024.

It also follows the approval, on November 6, of a 20-year licence extension for Unit 2 until 2045. Unit 1’s licence has also previously been extended by 20 years to 2044.

Eskom says both units will, together, supply about 1 860 MW of clean, reliable and affordable power to the national grid for the next two decades – supporting the goals of the Integrated Resource Plan 2025 and South Africa’s just energy transition.

And, Guinea coup leader Doumbouya cleared to run for president

Guinea junta leader Mamady Doumbouya and eight other candidates have been approved to run in next month's presidential election, according to a list published by the Supreme Court at the weekend.

Doumbouya vowed not to run when he seized power in the West African country in 2021. But a new constitution pushed by the military-led government and approved in a referendum in September opened the door to his candidacy.

Two strong potential challengers, a former President Alpha Conde and former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, are ineligible because of age and residency rules in the new constitution.

Doumbouya put his name forward last week, a move that could keep him in power for another five years. He is running as an independent.

Doumbouya will compete against relatively low-profile candidates such as Abdoulaye Yero Balde, former minister of higher education and deputy governor of the central bank, and Faya Millimono, an opposition leader critical of the junta.

Lansana Kouyate, a former prime minister whose candidacy was not accepted, plans to appeal, his party said on Facebook.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA