KEY POINTS
- Eskom has launched a strategy to eliminate load reduction by 2027, focusing on modernising its distribution grid and tackling high-risk areas.
- Security at the Senzo Meyiwa trial was tightened after intelligence warned of threats against judicial officials, leading to the removal and questioning of three individuals.
- Parliament confirmed rising threats to MPs following the hijacking of MK Party MP Vusi Shongwe, prompting renewed calls for stronger protection for lawmakers.
Eskom has set out a fresh timetable to scrap load reduction across the country by 2027, marking its most assertive attempt in years to stabilise a battered distribution network and rebuild trust among millions of frustrated customers.
The state utility, still navigating chronic infrastructure failures and entrenched power theft, said its new Load Reduction Elimination Strategy would be rolled out in stages, beginning with hotspots in Gauteng and parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
These areas have endured some of the most disruptive power cuts, often tied to illegal connections, vandalised equipment and weather-related damage.
Speaking on the plans, Eskom’s spokesperson Daphne Mokwena described the shift as a potential turning point, particularly for low-income households that have struggled not only with interruptions but also with rising electricity costs.
Around 1.69 million customers remain affected by load reduction schedules, a stark reminder of how widely the problem has spread.
At the heart of the strategy is a push to modernise the distribution grid. Eskom intends to strengthen high-risk sections of its network, increase the installation of smart meters and broaden the tools used to monitor and respond to faults.
By leaning more heavily on digital infrastructure, the utility hopes to cut downtime, reduce losses caused by illegal connections and prepare the network for a more efficient integration of renewable energy.
Security threats cast shadow over Meyiwa trial and Parliament’s oversight work
While Eskom pressed ahead with its long-awaited reforms, tensions flared in Pretoria as the police tightened security around the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial. Officers briefly halted proceedings at the High Court after intelligence suggested that a group attending the hearings planned to target members of the judiciary.
Three individuals were escorted out of the courtroom for questioning, and a case of conspiracy to commit murder was opened.
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe later confirmed that the individuals were released, though electronic devices seized from them remain under forensic examination.
The intelligence, according to Mathe, pointed to specific threats against judges, prosecutors, investigators and court officials, prompting a visible ramp-up of security both inside and around the courthouse.
The security concerns extended beyond the court. Parliament acknowledged that some MPs have recently faced threats during oversight visits, with the most recent case involving MK Party MP Vusi Shongwe.
Shongwe, who sits on an ad hoc committee probing allegations of police corruption, was hijacked and robbed in Johannesburg’s East Rand, raising further alarm about the risks faced by lawmakers conducting field work.
