News 06:00

BULLETIN 7 March 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa enforces the removal of judges
# Eskom announces an alternating load-shedding schedule
# And, Trump’s way to the Republican nomination is now wide open

# Retired Judge Nkola Motata has been officially removed from his judicial position by president Cyril Ramaphosa. This was after the National Assembly’s resolution, supported by 296 members, to remove Motata due to gross misconduct related to a 2009 drunk driving conviction. Ramaphosa also removed Western Cape High Court Judge President John Hlophe from office. The Judicial Conduct Tribunal found Hlophe’s conduct threatened the independence of the Constitutional Court. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the removals align with the government’s adherence to constitutional provisions:

# Eskom says an alternating pattern of stage two and four load-shedding will be implemented, to replenish emergency reserves. Starting at four in the afternoon, stage two load-shedding will be enforced until eight in the evening, followed by an escalation to stage four until five the following morning. This cycle will continue until further notice due to delays in returning three generating units. Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena says the power system will be closely monitored, promising updates for the weekend tomorrow afternoon:

# The City of Ekurhuleni says its financial integrity remains sound. This comes after credit rating agency Moody’s downgraded the metro after it failed to submit its audited financial statements to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange by the end of last month. The agency says the downgrade reflects the increased risk of default amid weakening governance and management practices. The City of Ekurhuleni has rejected the rating downgrade, saying it has no formal agreement with Moody’s for such evaluations. It adds that it remains committed to transparent and responsible financial management.

# The disciplinary hearing against suspended GOOD Party Western Cape legislature member, Peter de Villiers, will begin today. The former Springbok coach is currently suspended from the party following sexual misconduct allegations against him. De Villiers is alleged to have made sexual advances to another party member in January. GOOD has appointed advocate Lionel Esau as the disciplinary hearing chairperson. The party says these allegations are serious and its constitution deals comprehensively and unequivocally with gender rights and sexual misconduct.

# Former US president Donald Trump’s final hurdle on his way to becoming the Republican candidate in November’s election has been removed, with Nikki Haley withdrawing from the race. But she refused to endorse Trump, saying he should earn the support of his party and the independent voters who backed her. The former governor of South Carolina, who had reportedly been seen as the preferred candidate for Republicans tired of Trump’s ongoing legal issues, says she has no regrets:

# Rugby: The Hurricanes will be without their All Blacks utility back Jordie Barrett for their next Super Rugby matches against the Blues, defending champions Crusaders, and the Melbourne Rebels. He was banned until the 22nd of this month after being sent off with a yellow card for a high tackle on Queensland Reds’ fullback Jordan Petaia last weekend. This was then upgraded to red. This was Barrett’s 100th match for the Hurricanes, which they won 38-33. He has played 57 Tests for New Zealand.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-80-cents and the euro at 20-rand-50-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-95-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-987-dollars-91-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-145-dollars-66-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-11-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….