COCT Law Enforcement joins efforts to clampdown on crime in prisons
In an attempt to crack down on criminal activities within the Department of Correctional Services, City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement, Metro Police and Traffic Services joined a multi-agency raid on sections of Polsmoor Prison. A number of inmates were arrested after finding various prohibited articles in their possession, while several items were seized as evidence. With previous reports suggesting that the notorious number gangs controlled trade within the prison walls, the operation saw the confiscation of 21 packets of Tik, 11 tablets of Mandrax and another 17 packets of Dagga.
Stop COCT group joins Good in calling for COCT electricity tariffs to be reviewed
The lobby group, STOP City of Cape Town, has joined the Good Party in calling on the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to stop the City of Cape Town from implementing a higher-than-normal electricity tariff hike.
The city implemented a 17-point-six percent electricity tariff increase that is expected to be implemented next month.
Good has complained, saying this is higher than Nersa’s 15-point-one percent approved tariff.
Stage 6 powercuts scheduled for the weekend
Eskom has announced that Stage 6 loadshedding will continue to be implemented over the weekend.
The power utility says the increase in the demand for electricity due to the cold weather was anticipated, however, this demand exceeded what was forecasted.
Eskom says emergency reserves were used on Monday and Tuesday to buffer the effects of the cold weather.
Eskom interim spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, says due to the failure of additional generation units since Sunday, the reserves have been depleted.
Some US states see record high temperatures
An unrelenting heatwave is scorching south-western parts of the US with Arizona projected to see a record stretch of extreme hot weather. The Weather service says More than 115 million people are under some form of heat warnings.
Phoenix has experienced 13 days of temperatures of at least 43C and is forecast to surpass its 18-day record of over 43C heat next Tuesday.
India set for moon mission
India is set to launch its third Moon mission, aiming to be the first to land near its little-explored south pole.
The lander is due to reach the Moon on 23-24 August. If successful, India will be only the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, following the US, the former Soviet Union and China.
