NATIONAL

President Ramaphosa applauded the South African Police Service for investigating the case of suspected racism that took place at the Maselpoort Resort in the Free State on Christmas Day.

South Africa has endured electricity shortages for the past 15 years, but power cuts reached new extremes this year, which Eskom blames on sabotage, crime and ageing power stations.

The tanker, transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), was caught beneath a bridge close to the hospital and houses on Saturday morning in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.

Tsepo Lipholo, leader of the Lesotho Covenant Movement in Parliament, is pushing for a motion to be heard after the Christmas break.

South African health department said that elderly people and the immunocompromised are especially advised to get the additional Covid-19 vaccine booster.

Like many urban Nigerians, Moses dreads the long road journey to see relatives in the countryside -- a trip fraught with danger as gangs lurk to attack travellers or hold them to ransom.

Ramaphosa now faces the task of rebuilding support for the corruption-tainted ANC amid crippling power cuts that have hurt business and exacerbated rampant unemployment.

Eskom confirmed that the South African National Defence Force has been deployed to four of its power stations - Majuba, Camden, Grootvlei, and Tutuka.

Another ex-military pilot who previously worked for the flying school was arrested in Australia in October.

Ramaphosa's re-election opens the way to a second term as South Africa's president, as the ANC have an absolute majority in parliament, which selects the head of state.

The emergency services said they were afraid the death toll would rise after the "uncommon" event.

S.Africa's ruling party votes in tightening race for new leader

If Ramaphosa loses, it could open the door to a rival ANC faction allied to former President Jacob Zuma.

De Ruyter, a former packaging executive who took over as CEO in 2020, will stay on until the end of March next year to give the firm time to look for a successor, Mpho Makwana, the chairman of Eskom's board said in a statement.

The outcome of the vote puts Ramaphosa in a stronger position to secure re-election as ANC leader at a party contest starting on Friday.

Lawmakers are called to decide, by simple majority, whether to press ahead with impeachment proceedings.

Ramaphosa, who was championed as a graft-busting saviour after the corruption-tainted tenure of predecessor Jacob Zuma, has been marred by accusations that he attempted to cover up a huge cash theft at his luxury farm.

The fake message alleged the detection of a new COVID-19 variant and called on everyone to wear masks for prevention.

When Ramaphosa visited Nomzamo Park in Soweto in 2021, he promised to improve conditions in the tough neighbourhood on the edge of Johannesburg.

The two officials discussed South Africa's participation in the upcoming U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington.

Despite its recent efforts, South Africa recorded only 1559 EV units sold at the beginning of 2022.

Besides jobs, billions of rands in exports are also on the line amid the declining demand for greenhouse gas-emitting cars.

Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said that the current load shedding is unlikely to improve soon.

A spokesman confirmed that this meant Walus had been released, in line with a decision by the Constitutional Court.

If passed into law, the bill would repeal Section 11 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offenses and Related Matters) Amendment Act of 2007.

Ramaphosa remains the most popular figure in the African National Congress (ANC) and the best placed to reverse last year's municipal polls that saw the party's share of the vote drop below half for the first time.

The next days are critical for the head of state who has been championed as a graft-busting saviour after the corruption-drenched tenure of predecessor Jacob Zuma.

Ramaphosa asked the country's top court to throw out the independent panel's findings over the "Farmgate" affair, which critics have said should force his resignation.

Parliament on Tuesday is set to debate a damning report by an independent panel probing allegations that Ramaphosa concealed a huge cash theft at his farm.