Top news in major S. African news outlets

The following are highlights of South African major media outlets on Friday:

--The Department of Energy will recommend to Cabinet that Eskom is to be appointed as the procurer, owner and operator of the new nuclear energy build programme as per the Nuclear Energy Policy of 2008.

It will further propose that the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) be designated as the owner operator of the front-end side of the fuel cycle, including the multi-purpose reactor. The Department of Energy will remain the nuclear policy co-ordinator for the nuclear build programme.

(Fin24)

--Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane does not have sole authority to declare the drought, which is plaguing eight provinces, a national disaster.

"I have no authority to declare a disaster. Once the relative authorities, including Treasury and the department of co-operative governance agree collectively, then we can declare a disaster," Mokonyane told Parliament's portfolio committee on water and sanitation on Thursday. (News24)

--Police spokesperson Sally de Beer has again called on police to exercise maximum restraint and operate within the law.

Her statement comes after the Independent Police Investigative Directorate confirmed that it would investigate the shooting and wounding of Wits University student leader Shaeera Kalla and other students after police fired rubber bullets on Thursday. (South African Broadcasting Corporation). Enditem