Residents in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) are facing uncertainty as Eskom escalates its efforts to eliminate illegal electricity connections across the province. In Lion Park, residents attempted unsuccessfully on Wednesday to physically obstruct Eskom and police from entering their village to sever unauthorized power supplies.
Utility workers were actively engaged on Wednesday and Thursday, dismantling and seizing numerous transformers and cables that the Lion Park community in Pietermaritzburg had been using for power theft. Residents tried to block the road leading to Lion Park to prevent Eskom from enforcing a Pietermaritzburg High Court order mandating the disconnection.
This recent action followed a similar operation conducted in March at Hardingsdale Farm, locally known as Claridge, also situated in Pietermaritzburg. Eskom issued a statement on Wednesday warning that comparable operations would be implemented throughout the province in areas known for widespread illegal hookups.
Since the disconnections began, some residents in Claridge who can afford it have installed solar panels to maintain lighting and run household appliances. While Eskom lacks a precise count of villages with illegal connections, Dadewabo Mbhele, the Senior Manager for Customer Services, informed the media in Lion Park that intelligence gathering is underway to pinpoint these locations.
Mbhele confirmed plans to extend operations to other regions, noting that in other provinces, they have already disconnected farmers who have maintained illegal connections for extended periods. She emphasized that the goal of working with intelligence is to locate energy loss points to secure the network for paying customers.
Mbhele previously estimated in March that the utility suffers annual losses amounting to roughly R6 billion due to these illicit connections. During the Lion Park operation, some residents living in modern homes told the media they could afford legal bills but faced difficulties convincing Eskom to provide them with official connections. Mbhele explained that the inability to connect these households stems from the fact that their land is designated as agricultural rather than residential.
Eskom affirmed its commitment to supplying electricity lawfully and safely, replacing illegal links that jeopardize the stability and security of the power grid. Both Lion Park and Claridge feature properties with high-end residences.
Eskom noted that in Lion Park, electricity was illegally supplied to households numbering over 1,400 within the last twelve years. The area is predominantly composed of households classified under a high Socio-Economic Measure (SEM) who possess the means to cover service costs. These community members reportedly constructed extensive unauthorized infrastructure, including poles, lines, and transformers, to power approximately 1,400 homes.
The statement further detailed that these unauthorized connections are estimated to cause Eskom revenue losses surpassing R14 million each year. Eskom also suspects that some of the equipment used for these illegal connections may have been acquired unlawfully.
Eskom reiterated its legal duty, as stipulated by its electricity distribution license and the NRS 048 Code, to remove illegal connections and guarantee a safe and dependable electricity supply for all consumers. The utility stressed that illegal connections severely stress the network, heighten the danger of blackouts, and present serious safety risks to local populations.
The company's chairperson, Dr Mteto Nyati, cited in the statement, argued that the nation deserves reliable power, which can only be achieved through accountability and payment for services. He asserted that non-payment by both customers and municipalities hinders national progress, investment, and prosperity, stating that collective responsibility is necessary for a stronger South Africa.
Tembela Kulu, the General Manager of Eskom Group Investigations and Security, assured that the group would remain resolute in protecting its infrastructure. His teams will continue supporting the auditing and removal of illegal connections to safeguard Eskom's assets, maintain network integrity, and ensure employee safety.
Joyce Zingoni, Eskom’s Industry and Stakeholder Management Manager, reported that the combined approach of disconnecting illegal links, engaging with communities, and installing smart meters is producing favorable outcomes in combating theft and the culture of non-payment. She pledged continued execution of these activities until all illegal connections and network tampering cease, focusing on awareness, education, and removal.
The land in Lion Park is administered by the Azibuye Emasisweni Amaqhamu Community Trust, having been legally reclaimed from several farmers. The trust's chairperson, Mlungisi Khanyezi, mentioned that he and the trust's legal team were preparing an urgent application at the Pietermaritzburg High Court to seek an injunction against Eskom's disconnection efforts. However, when contacted on Thursday for an update, he stated he was in a meeting and would only be available after 1 pm, ultimately failing to answer calls or respond to WhatsApp messages.
The trust has urged the public to report any illegal connections anonymously through its crime line (0800 11 27 22), WhatsApp (081 333 3323), email (eskom@whistleblowing.co.za), or SMS Line (31090).
Uzbekistan is introducing new strict regulations for advertising related to loans, installments, and the sale of goods on credit to individuals.
In accordance with a presidential decree dated July 15, advertising materials related to such services must now include information about the total cost of purchase and the amount of overpayment. These steps are designed to allow consumers to immediately assess the actual costs, including the amount they must pay above the initial price of the good or financial service.
Furthermore, advertising of financial products must no longer contain any assurances or promises of future benefits if those benefits cannot be precisely determined at the time of signing the agreement. It is also stipulated that a prominent warning must be placed at the beginning of microloan agreements, occupying at least thirty percent of the main body of the document. Similar notifications about the potentially negative consequences of obtaining a loan must be included in all accompanying and advertising documentation.
Regulators retain the right to temporarily or completely ban the distribution of credit products deemed misleading to consumers. The Committee for Competition Development and Consumer Protection, acting jointly with the Central Bank and other relevant agencies, is obliged to submit the corresponding draft document for consideration by the Cabinet of Ministers by September 1, 2026. The Central Bank, together with the Ministry of Justice, must also prepare a draft regulatory legal act to implement these changes by September.
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has begun offering autonomous taxi services to the public at a price of 5 dirhams.
Currently, these services are exclusively available in the Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah areas and are implemented in cooperation with Apollo Go. Previously, this service was offered free of charge through the Apollo Go application.
Khaleej Times previously reported that rides in such taxis were paid for via the Uber app, indicating that this new feature will soon become part of the daily life of residents.
The autonomous taxis operate using an integrated software system that utilizes artificial intelligence, high-precision digital maps, and deep learning algorithms. This allows for real-time data processing and decision-making while driving.
These vehicles are capable of effectively interacting with changing traffic conditions, including intersections, traffic lights, pedestrians, and other vehicles, while fully adhering to all traffic rules.
The system is supported by extensive operational experience: the operator's fleet has accumulated over 150 million kilometers of safe mileage and completed more than 10 million autonomous trips in various cities worldwide.
To use the service, residents need to download the Apollo Go application and register an account. After logging in, users can specify pick-up and drop-off points within the service area. For example, a short trip from Jumeirah Mosque to Umm Suqeim is available.
After confirming the ride, the vehicle arrives at the selected location. Passengers can unlock the car using a one-time password (OTP) provided in the application and begin their journey.
Samsung has become the focus of a commercial investigation in the United States following a formal complaint filed by Netlist. This case is directly related to memory chips that are essential in servers supporting much of the artificial intelligence services.
According to Reuters, the analysis of the situation also extends to products marketed by Google, Nvidia, Broadcom, and Super Micro Computer, as these companies use the components in question.
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) has initiated proceedings to verify whether memory chips manufactured by Samsung infringe on patents registered by the American company Netlist. The complaint specifically focuses on DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), which is crucial for the temporary storage of data processed by processors.
These components are vital for servers running AI applications in large data centers. Netlist requested that the USITC impose a block on the importation of the questioned chips and the products incorporating them, as well as prohibiting their sale in the American market.
This new case represents another development in a long legal dispute between the two corporations regarding high-performance memory technologies. In 2024, a jury in Texas ruled that Samsung should pay Netlist $118 million (equivalent to about R$ 601.8 million) for infringing patents related to data processing in memory. One year earlier, a previous decision established compensation of $303 million (approximately R$ 1.55 billion) in a similar lawsuit.
Currently, a USITC judge is responsible for examining the evidence and issuing a preliminary ruling, which can still be reviewed by the commission itself.
The investigation comes at a time of strong growth in demand for infrastructure dedicated to artificial intelligence. Technology companies are increasing their investments in data centers, which raises the need for memories produced by Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron. Reuters points out that this movement has also driven up the prices of these components.
The USITC has up to 45 days to establish the case schedule. If it decides to restrict the importation or marketing of the items under scrutiny, this measure will take immediate effect and can only be reversed by the U.S. Trade Representative within a 60-day period.
It is important to note that the opening of this case does not automatically imply patent infringement, but rather puts pressure on a strategic supply chain for the AI sector. While the commission evaluates the arguments presented by both Netlist and Samsung, manufacturers and other companies using these memories are closely monitoring the development of the case. The final outcome may influence not only the two involved companies but also a market increasingly dependent on servers and data centers to keep pace with the progress of artificial intelligence.
