First Take SA

The South African Independent Power Producers Association (SAIPPA) has strongly opposed government's intention to renegotiate power purchase agreements in an effort to help Eskom cut costs. Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan says the power utility pays high prices to Independent Power Producers for power generated from renewable energy projects. SAIPPA has cautioned that changing the rules would have a negative impact on President Cyril Ramaphosa's current campaign to attract investment

1. A nuclear conference in Algeria has called on France to assume responsibility in the gathering of waste resulted from the nuclear tests that they conducted in Algerian Sahara desert in the 1960s...?

2. Egypt is to priotise trade rather than politics as it takes leadership at the African Union

3. A new fishing deal signed between the Somalia government and vessels tied to the Chinnese has raised serious concerns in the Somalis fishing community

Sibanye Stillwater says over six-thousand jobs are at risk of being cut at two of its gold mines, Shafts in Beatrix in the Free State and Driefontein, West of Johannesburg. The mine says this is due to operational and financial risks associated with the under-performance of these shafts, including a forecast loss in profits of a Billion rands. Meanwhile, Trade Union Solidarity has placed the blame for the potential job losses at the hands of rival union AMCU as a three month strike for better pay rages on. Elvis Preslin spoke to the Head of Stakeholders Relations at Sibanye Stillwater, Thabisile Phumo.

Sibanye Stillwater says over six-thousand jobs are at risk of being cut at two of its gold mines, Shafts in Beatrix in the Free State and Driefontein, West of Johannesburg. The mine says this is due to operational and financial risks associated with the under-performance of these shafts, including a forecast loss in profits of a Billion rands. Meanwhile, Trade Union Solidarity has placed the blame for the potential job losses at the hands of rival union AMCU as a three month strike for better pay rages on. Elvis Preslin spoke to AMCU president, Joseph Mathunjwa

Businesses in Cape Town have expressed concern over the ongoing load shedding which is having a crippling effect on their operations and ultimately, their profits. The Cape Chamber of Commerce has described Monday's Stage Four load shedding as shocking. The Chamber says the ongoing power outages, now on Stage 3, are having a devastating effect on South Africa's economy.

Thousands of COSATU members take to the streets countrywide, except the Western Cape, in an effort to oppose massive job losses in the country. The intended shutdown also comes a week before the 2019 Budget Speech by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni. Cosatu says it hopes to hear from the finance minister about concrete plans to create jobs and halt retrenchment of thousands of workers. The Federation's list of demands will be delivered at various points which include the Minerals Council, departments of Labour and Eskom

Learners at Gatang secondary and Solomon Mahlangu high schools in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria have been left stranded. This as the COSATU-affiliated teacher union SADTU joins its mother body in a national strike against retrenchments and unemployment. However, in Mamelodi teachers reported for work, started planning to join their striking counterparts. Sonto Makhafola, a member of the Learners Representative Council at Gatang secondary school has pleaded with striking teachers to think about the learners .

Power utility Eskom says there is a probability of loadshedding again TODAY ( Monday). Yesterday the power giant implemented Stage 2 rotational loadshedding until 10PM across the national grid, citing a shortage of generating capacity as one of the reasons for the blackouts. There are fears that loadshedding could last for months.

Rhodes University says the institution runs the risk of shutting its doors if the water challenges in Makhanda - formerly known as Grahamstown - are not effectively addressed. The university town, also known for its annual National Arts Festival, has seen most areas going without water for as long as six days. Scorching temperatures, a lack of rain, poor planning and maintenance of the city's infrastructure, have been identified as the key contributing factors

Humanitarian organisation, Gift and the Givers, is now collecting water bottles from major urban centres around the country for delivery to the desperate residents of Makhanda