Daily news update: Eskom CEO De Ruyter resigns; Judge John Hlophe suspended; Mantashe ordered to reveal records

Here’s your morning news update: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way.

Daily news update – 15 December

Eskom CEO André de Ruyter resigns

André de Ruyter has resigned as Eskom’s chief executive.

He reportedly handed in his resignation letter to Eskom board chairperson Mpho Makwana earlier this week. 

The resignation comes after repeated calls for Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan to fire De Ruyter.

Judge John Hlophe suspended with immediate effect

Judge President of the Western High Court, Mandlakayise John Hlophe, was suspended by President Cyril Ramaphosa, effective immediately.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, it was confirmed that Hlophe’s suspension would be valid until a decision was taken by the National Assembly.

“In order to ensure continuity and stability in the work of the divisional high court, the suspension which is in effect immediately, is on condition that Judge President Hlophe completes all part-heard matters and reserved judgments,” Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.

Court orders Mantashe to reveal records of why he included coal in IRP 2019

Department of Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has been ordered to release documents explaining his decision to include new coal-fired power plants as part of the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).

Mantashe has also been ordered to disclose records pertaining to the 2020 ministerial determination for new coal issued under the IRP, and has been made to pay costs for the application.

The Pretoria High Court judgment has been hailed an early victory for applicants African Climate Alliance, the Vukani Environmental Justice Movement in Action, and groundWork, represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER).

Wet weather to continue into long weekend

Wet weather conditions are expected to continue unabated over the next couple of days as holidaymakers are expected to start embarking on their journeys across the country.

As a result, motorists are advised to exercise extra caution.

Speaking to The Citizen on Wednesday, forecaster at the South African Weather Service (SAWS) Kholofelo Mahlangu said the level 2 alert for severe thunderstorms over parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Gauteng as well as KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) still remain in place for Thursday.

ANC makes U-turn on Tony Yengeni’s eligibility to stand for NEC position

ANC member Tony Yengeni has won his appeal to be eligible to stand in for a high-ranking position at the party’s 55th elective conference this weekend.

Yengeni was served with a letter last week disqualifying him from contesting the National Executive Committee (NEC) due to his fraud conviction.

This despite Yengeni not being nominated for any positions within the committee.

Kidnapped businessman Ranga Gova in Zimbabwe after being found

Well-known Gauteng businessman Ranga Gova, who was kidnapped on 3 November, has been found and reunited with his family.

Gova went home to Zimbabwe on Saturday, Olifantsfontein police station investigating officer Captain Seckle confirmed to Pretoria Rekord.

Seckle could not, however, disclose where Gova had been found.