News 14:00

BULLETIN 25 September 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Nhlahla Mkhwanazi tasks KZN’s Murder and Robbery unit to probe the mass shooting in KwaMakhutha
# Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa ushers in the Eskom 2.0 era
# And soccer: Amajita faces Zambia in the COSAFA Cup semifinal today

# KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlahla Mkhwanazi has tasked the police’s Murder and Robbery Unit to investigate the killing of eleven people who were shot and killed at Ziko area in KwaMakhutha, Durban, on Tuesday night. Fourteen people were inside a house when three armed men opened fire. Police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda says ten victims died at the scene, while another died in hospital:

# The Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court has postponed the case against businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and his two companies to Tuesday. Investigating Directorate against Corruption spokesperson Henry Mamothame says Matlala is expected to rejoin 13 co-accused in the Pretoria Regional Court on the 228-million-rand Medicare 24 Tshwane District contract. Mamothame says Matlala and his two companies were previously separated after he indicated he would enter a plea and sentence agreement, but later withdrew. All accused face corruption charges over the alleged irregular awarding of the tender.

# South Africa’s electricity grid is entering a new era. Electricity and Energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says “Eskom 2.0” must survive without government bailouts. Addressing the media, Ramokgopa said as power generation improves, focus shifts to structural changes, grid expansion, and market competitiveness. He emphasises repeated fiscal support and double-digit tariff hikes are unsustainable. Ramokgopa said affordable electricity is crucial for industrial growth and protecting households from rising living costs:

Moving abroad:

# Qatar’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has condemned Yemen’s Houthis for launching ballistic missiles toward the cities of Taif and Yanbu in Saudi Arabia. Saudi air defences intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by the Iran-allied group. Last week, it intercepted a drone launched by the Houthis towards Mecca. Qatar says it considers these aggressions a reprehensible hostile act and an unacceptable disregard for civilian lives, as well as a blatant violation of Saudi sovereignty. It has affirmed the necessity of an immediate cessation.

# Soccer: The South African Under-20 men’s team are just one victory away from qualifying for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament. Amajita is preparing to face Zambia in the semifinals of the COSAFA Cup in Matola, Mozambique, today, with a place at the continental finals up for grabs. Both teams finished the group stages on nine points after three victories. Amajita head coach Raymond Mdaka says Zambia is a tough team to play against, but his players are ready for the challenge.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-32-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-58-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-59-cents and Bitcoin trades at 84-thousand-696-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-302-dollars-43-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 103-dollars-51-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….