News 11:00

BULLETIN 12 September 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Aucamp says South Africa’s farmers need greater access to finance
# Eskom raises the energy availability factor to 67.78-percent, the highest level in six years
# And rugby: The Springbok legend Naas Botha believes South Africa has a physical and psychological edge over the All Blacks

# Agriculture minister, Willie Aucamp says a farm cannot thrive on land alone and South Africa’s farmers also need access to finance, productive assets, livestock and appropriate support to build sustainable enterprises. The minister participated in a panel discussion at the NAMPO Cape fair in Bredasdorp in the Western Cape. The discussion explored farmer-financing models, access to land and farming opportunities, as well as the role of assets and livestock in building productive, resilient and sustainable farming enterprises. The minister says when farmers are equipped to succeed, agriculture grows and food security is strengthened:

Meanwhile, Aucamp has announced that plans are underway to increase the number of extension officers supporting farmers across South Africa. During this year state of the nation Adress, president Cyril Ramaphosa announced plans to deploy ten-thousand extension officers to help farmers boost food production and create jobs for young graduates. Aucamp highlighted the importance of bringing technical advice and agricultural support closer to farmers:

# Eskom says the energy availability factor has risen to 67.78-percent year-to-date, marking its highst level in six year. The power utility’s spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena says unplanned outages has also declined from 26.61-percent to 19.43-percent compared to the same period last year. She says improved fleet reliability and availability have restored three-thousand-500-megawatts of generation capacity to the grid and reduced diesel expenditure by 4.8-billion-rand:

# The Western Cape government and Mossel Bay Municipality have agreed to install sandbags at Diaz Beach as a temporary measure to reduce the risk of coastal erosion. The sandbags are meant to reduce the risk of dunes collapsing, help protect nearby properties, infrastructure and the public while a permanent solution is considered. The long-term solution will be decided through an environmental assessment and could include removing the sandbags or adding more sand to the beach.

# Rugby: Springbok legend Naas Botha believes South Africa hold both a physical and psychological edge over the All Blacks ahead of the fourth and final Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series scheduled for M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Botha says the Springboks’ dominance up front had placed New Zealand in an uncomfortable position heading into the decider. South Africa currently lead the four-Test series 2-1. He added the All Blacks do not have an answer to the Boks’ forward dominance. Kick-off is at 11 pm tonight local time.

# And finally: President Cyril Ramaphosa has wished the Jewish community in South Africa and around the world a peaceful, safe, and joyous Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. As the Jewish community enters the period of the high holy days, South Africans are reminded of the abiding value in faith and family. The President says in Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah is a time for renewal and reflection and carries a profound and timeless message about the power to bring about change – not only in their own lives, but in the lives of those around them.

Stay tuned for more news………….