Eskom chief financial officer Calib Cassim has confirmed that the state -owend power utility has applied for an electricity price increase of 20.5% for its 2023 financial year, set to take effect from 1st April 2022. The company confirmed the information following a press statement from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (nersa), which Eskom it says misrepresented its statement. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Energy thought leader CEO and Energy analyst Mike Rossou

National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi has reiterated that the National Prosecuting Authority is not in a crisis. Batohi is appearing before Parliament to answer questions about the resignation of the head of the Investigating Directorate Hermione Cronje. She has also provided reasons for the NPA missing its own December 2 deadline regarding the prosecution of those implicated in the murder of the Cradock four in the Eastern Cape in 1985. For some analysis Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Director of Open Secrets Hennie van Vuuren and Lukhanyo Calata; spokesperson for the Fort Calata Foundation and the son of Fort Calata, one of the Cradock 4 assassinated during apartheid

A group of disgruntled fathers has marched to the head office of the Social Development Department in Pretoria, to demand unlimited access to their children. Most of them say the law has restricted them from accessing or spending time with their children. They are demanding changes to the country's Children's Act. Organisers of the march want the law to enforce the rights of children and fathers in divorce processes. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Castro Musinyali; the Founder and Chairperson of  " We are fathers- We are parents"

Police in Mpumalanga have tracked down a young woman who was reportedly kidnapped as a newborn baby, in Ermelo in 2001. Police say the mother who was 16 at the time gave birth to a baby girl, and was later discharged from the Ermelo Provincial Hospital. She was on her way home when the alleged kidnapper; offered to assist by holding the baby as her mom was experiencing pain. The alleged kidnapper then disappeared with the newborn; according to the police. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala 

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it is confident that the Constitution 18th Amendment Bill will not achieve a two-thirds majority vote in the National Assembly. The party says however that if it does, they will challenge the Bill in court. The Bill is before parliament on Monday for final approval after the Ad Hoc Committee adopted it in September. The Bill seeks to amend Section 25 of the Constitution to facilitate the expropriation of land without compensation. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC parliamentary correspondent Mercedes Besent

A 28 year old man accused in the rape and murder of a six year old girl has appeared in the Praktiseer magistrate's court outside Burgersfort in Limpopo. The accused, Levy Nangoma had his case postponed to February first next year. He allegedly lured the girl into his house, raped and strangled her to death. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to reporter Jabulani Baloi

National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi is adamant that the National Prosecuting Authority has the capacity to prosecute complex crimes that involve high-profile people. Batohi briefed the media virtually amid growing public impatience that no major arrests have been following the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture hearings. The briefing also comes after the resignation of Investigating Directorate head, Advocate Hermione Cronje who will officially vacate office in March next year. Cronje was appointed in 2019, to lead the newly established Investigative Directorate which is aimed at fighting corruption. Parliament has called on Batohi and Justice Minister, Ronald Lamola to explain Cronje's departure. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to director of Accountability Now Advocate Paul Hoffman

The South African Cargo Transport Drivers Association claims that truck drivers who have blocked the N3 at Van Reenen's Pass between KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, are protesting against the employment of foreign drivers. Trucks closed off the highway in both directions since the early hours of Friday morning, forcing a lengthy traffic backlog. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Daniel Mofokeng, the President of the South African Cargo Transport Drivers Association; and the CEO of the Road Freight Assosiation, Gavin Kelly

The Amadiba Crisis Committee says it has brought a second application for an urgent interdict against oil petroleum giant Shell, which will be heard on December 14th. This; as the organisation prepares to hold a march against Shell this weekend. Meanwhile Shell has welcomed the dismissal of the urgent application to interdict its seismic survey operat  ion on the wild coast of the Eastern Cape. Acting Judge Avinash Govindjee dismissed the application with costs. The matter was heard in the Makhanda High Court.   Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the spokesperson for the Amadiba Crisis Committee Nonhle Mbuthuma

South Deep gold mine is now planning 50 MW of sun energy with an equal volume of wind energy. Glencore this week promised to institute just transition measures at all the coal mines it closes. Sakina Kamwendo brings you another update From The Coal-Face with Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News and Mining Weekly. He’ll be back At The Coal-Face at the same time next Friday.