NewsWrap: SA’s state of infrastructure a concern 

Hlabisa says the notion that gov interventions improved loadshedding must be rejected

IFP Leader Velenkosini Hlabisa, says the notion that the government’s interventions have improved loadshedding must be rejected with contempt. He emphasised that South Africa only had 33 days without loadshedding last year. According to reports, the private sector added about three-thousand megawatts of solar power to the grid over the same period.

Meanwhile….

The Multi-Party Charter expressed their commitment to end loadshedding and ensure energy security for South Africa. According to ActionSA’s Herman Mashaba, they hope to pass the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill to help establish a competitive energy supply. Mashaba says the charter also wants to create a conducive regulatory environment for the construction of microgrids.

IEC sets up social media guidelines for political entities 

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says the country’s election management bodies (EMB’s) can enforce behaviour on social media ahead of the elections. According to the commission, the guidelines may be used in part to add to the code of conduct.

Meanwhile the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa – Icasa, has amended its election coverage regulations to accommodate independent candidates. Icasa published draft regulations for public consultation and provincial workshops and public hearings. Some of these include renaming party election broadcasts to a more inclusive political election broadcast to make provision for independent candidates. Commercial and community broadcasters should also be writing to icasa if they intend to broadcast political election broadcasts within five calendar days of the listing.

SA’s state of infrastructure a concern 

The state of infrastructure and building safety has been cast into the spotlight lately with several stories of derelict buildings claiming several lives. Now SAPS members accommodated at the Telkom Towers building in Pretoria had to vacate the premises this week. This is after the Department of Labour issued a prohibition notice due to identified deficiencies at the building.
The deficiencies include a shortage of clean drinking water, dirty toilets, and broken lifts, among others