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

Making headlines: Eskom threatens to disconnect Free State municipality over more than R330m in unpaid debt; ActionSA accuses DA of using Joburg water challenges for point-scoring; And, Unrest blocks Mozambique’s South African border for a second day

Eskom threatens to disconnect Free State municipality over more than R330m in unpaid debt

Power utility Eskom has published a notice of the possible disconnection of bulk electricity supply to the Tokologo local municipality, in the Free State, which will result in bulk electricity supply to Boshof, Seretse, Dealesville and Hertzogville being interrupted for a set number of hours each day from January 31.

The utility says the municipality currently owes it R328.7-million, excluding the current account of a further R3.68-million that became due and payable on November 20, and that the last payment it received from the municipality was R150 000 in October 2021.

The utility stated that its decision to proceed with the process to disconnect electricity supply is a measure of last resort to prevent the debt from spiralling out of control.

It has invited affected parties to submit written representations, comments and/or submissions indicating why it should or should not proceed to reduce, disconnect and/or terminate the bulk electricity supply points by January 6. After considering the submissions, the utility plans to make a final decision on or before January 16.

ActionSA accuses DA of using Joburg water challenges for point-scoring

ActionSA has accused the Democratic Alliance of grandstanding when it handed over two memoranda of demands to the City of Johannesburg yesterday, calling for the dissolution of the board of Johannesburg Water.

ActionSA claimed the DA was using the difficulties experienced by City of Johannesburg residents for “their own narrow political self-interest”.

The DA led a protest outside the Joburg Municipal Council on behalf of residents struggling against unreliable water supply in the city.

ActionSA CoJ chief whip Zark Lebatlang noted the city’s water crisis, which he said had been acknowledged by all spheres of government, however, he believed the DA had decided to use the issue as “cynical point-scoring”.

And, Unrest blocks Mozambique’s South African border for a second day

Mozambique’s main border crossing with South Africa was blocked for a second day today due to political unrest, the highway concessionaire said.

Renewed demonstrations after last month’s elections have led to road closures in Mozambique’s capital, as well as repeated disruptions at the Ressano Garcia border crossing, which South Africa’s mines use to move chrome en route to the Maputo port.

Violence has rocked Mozambique in the wake of the October 9 vote that extended the governing party’s 49-year rule. Opposition presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane disputed the outcome as fraudulent, and has repeatedly called for protests, including three days of demonstrations that started yesterday.

The unrest threatens to further delay a $20-billion natural-gas project that TotalEnergies SE is leading, while straining already tight state finances. Mondlane — who fled the country on October 21 — skipped a meeting that President Filipe Nyusi called for Tuesday, saying the incumbent failed to respond to his demands.

At least 70 people had died since the October 21 start of demonstrations, local observer group Decide Platform said. Police have used teargas and live ammunition to disperse protesters, and Nyusi said five officers were killed.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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