News 06:00

BULLETIN 2 October 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa calls on educators to help address gender-based violence and femicide
# Eskom waives solar registration fees until further notice
# And the Tennessee Department of Correction defends the ‘botched’ execution of Christa Pike

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on educators and the wider education community to help address gender-based violence and femicide, saying schools have a role to play in preventing violence before it happens. He addressed the 26th National Teaching Awards in Ekurhuleni yesterday. Ramaphosa stated that schools must not tolerate sexual harassment, abuse or exploitation by teachers, staff members or fellow learners. He added that education must help prevent violence before it happens:

Meanwhile, government says its four-point recovery plan will strengthen the fight against gender-based violence and femicide. The plan aims to improve policing, investigations, forensic work and prosecutions, while targeting unresolved murders, rapes and serious sexual offences involving women and children. Men and boys are also being urged to speak out against violence and harmful behaviour. Deputy government spokesperson William Baloyi urged communities to work with police, report crime and support survivors:

# Eskom has extended its waiver of registration-related charges for qualifying customer-owned solar systems of up to 50-kVA until further notice. The waiver applies to customers supplied directly by Eskom, giving them more time to register grid-connected rooftop systems without paying the utility’s registration fees. Eskom says registration remains compulsory for qualifying systems and is intended to support the safe integration of solar into the electricity network. Customers supplied by municipalities must instead follow their local authority’s requirements.

# The DA in Limpopo has lodged a complaint with the Electoral Commission, accusing the ANC of using an official government event for party-political purposes during the election period. According to the party, premier Phophi Ramathuba presided over an official house handover in Modimolle-Mookgophong on Tuesday, but photos show her alongside ANC office-bearers with ANC regalia on display. The DA’s Jacques Smalle says they will report Ramathuba to the province’s legislature’s ethics committee:

# The Tennessee Department of Correction has defended its actions after officials were unable to put Christa Pike to death on Wednesday evening. Prison officials administered two lethal doses of pentobarbital to Pike, but she survived and was taken to hospital. The 50-year-old was sentenced to death in 1996 for the murder of Colleen Slemmer. The department says it followed every step of the State’s lawful, established execution protocol approved by the Attorney General’s Office. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has halted the one remaining execution for the rest of the year.

# Rugby: Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will make a first appearance in five years for the Stormers when they take on Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship in Scotland tonight. He will start at openside flank with Louw Nel moving to the blindside while Riley Norton is in the second row. The only other change to the forward pack sees Ntuthuko Mchunu start in the front row. Among the backs, Stefan Ungerer and Yaqeen Ahmed form the half-back pairing. Wandile Mlaba is the new face on the bench covering loose forward.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-67-cents and the euro at 18-rand-77-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-3-cents and Bitcoin trades at 84-thousand-682-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-176-dollars-13-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 108-dollars-84-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….