News 08:00

BULLETIN 21 March 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The minister of Electricity highlights Eskom’s efforts to improve its systems and avoid load-shedding
# A young South African cricket star joins the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League
# And, South Africans are urged to observe International Down Syndrome Awareness Day

# Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has dismissed fears of Eskom’s deteriorating performance, highlighting initiatives to decrease load-shedding intensity and frequency.  Addressing oral questions in the National Assembly, Ramokgopa emphasised the need for a diverse energy mix, including coal, nuclear, gas, and renewable energy, to ensure a stable electricity supply:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has attributed the progress of South African black industrialists to collaboration between government and the private sector. Ramaphosa told delegates at the Black Industrialist Conference in Johannesburg that collaboration has created an enabling environment for black industrialists to thrive. He underscored the importance of programmes like the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act and the Black Industrialists Programme in fostering economic transformation and expanding the industrial base:

# Hamas denies Israel’s claims its soldiers killed 90 militants and arrested another 160 during a raid on the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza. Jerusalem says its military had over a few days eliminated terrorists and confiscated weapons while preventing harm to patients, civilians, medical personnel and equipment. Reuters reports two Israeli soldiers were killed during the operation. Hamas maintains the people killed were patients or displaced people who sought shelter in the hospital, one of the few remaining healthcare facilities still partially operational.

# Cricket: Teenager Kwena Maphaka’s dream season takes him to the Indian Premier League tomorrow. The young Proteas’ star bowler was named player of the tournament in the Under 19 World Cup after taking 21 wickets. Mumbai Indians, coached by former Proteas wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, inquired about his availability on Sunday, with Proteas bowler Kagiso Rabada helping him to get everything organised. The 17-year-old St Stithian learner’s mother accompanied him to India, while the team provided tutorship so his academic work is not severely affected.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-69-cents and the euro at 20-rand-44-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-893-dollars-4-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-203-dollars-17-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 86-dollars-56-cents a barrel.

# And finally, the minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, called on South Africans to observe International Down Syndrome Awareness Day. Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder and affects approximately one in 500 births in South Africa. Dlamini-Zuma emphasised the right to life and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities, advocating for protection from exploitation and access to accommodation, workplace accessibility, and community participation, as outlined in the Bill of Rights.

Stay tuned for more news………….