Road crash kills 27 in South Africa: official
Johannesburg, Oct 19: At least 27 people were killed Friday in a road crash in South Africa's northern Limpopo province after a truck swerved into oncoming traffic when its tyre burst, a local minister said.
The accident involving multiple vehicles killed 25 travelling in a mini-bus taxi and two more in a sports utility vehicle.
"Overall we lost 27 people with four others sustaining serious bodily injuries," said the provincial transport minister Makoma Makhurupetje.
"What happened today is nothing short of a disaster," she said in a statement.
Earlier she told AFP the truck had burst one of its front tyres.
"Unfortunately it crossed over into oncoming traffic with another four vehicles and one of the vehicles was a taxi (minibus)," Makhurupetge said.
Despite having one of the most sophisticated road networks on the continent, South Africa battles with a high rate of road fatalities blamed mostly on speeding, reckless driving, unroadworthy vehicles and failure to use seat belts
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
