News 11:00

BULLETIN 19 May 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Saftu criticises the NCOP’s approval of the Electricity Amendment Regulation Bill
# The Supreme Court of Appeal reserves judgment in the Wild Coast versus Shell case
# And, tennis: Swiatek demolishes Sabalenka to win her third Rome title

# Labour federation Saftu is upset over the National Council of Provinces’ approval of the Electricity Amendment Regulation Bill. Spokesperson Trevor Shaku argues the bill, which will dismantle Eskom’s monopoly and liberalise the electricity market, favours private sector interests over public ownership. He says the federation made a parliamentary submission opposing the bill, warning it would lead to higher tariffs and negatively impact citizens:

# The Supreme Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the nearly three-year legal battle between Wild Coast communities and respondents Shell and the minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe. The communities, supported by non-profits like Sustaining the Wild Coast and Greenpeace Africa, challenged Shell’s environmental authorisation for seismic surveys. The High Court in Makhanda ruled in favour of the applicants in 2022, citing inadequate public consultation. Shell and Mantashe appealed, arguing the consultation was sufficient.

# The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has protected the food security of over 1.6-million people in 23 countries. FAO senior emergency and rehabilitation officer, Dunja Dujanovic, says this was made possible through anticipatory actions against extreme weather. The latest El Niño is among the strongest on record, affecting up to 50-million people globally. Dujanovic says they distributed drought-tolerant seeds and constructed water harvesters:

# Tennis: Iga Swiatek won the Rome Open after sweeping aside Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-3 in the final to claim her third Foro Italico title. World number one Swiatek comfortably prevailed against second-ranked Sabalenka in the last major tournament before she defends her French Open crown. In front of a packed centre court crowd Swiatek won her 12th successive match on clay and became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to win at Madrid and Rome in the same season.

# And, the South African Space Agency warns the sun is heading towards its most active period next year, with peak activity expected in July. This follows last week’s extreme solar storm, which made the aurora australis phenomenon visible in South Africa. The agency cautions solar storms can disrupt electrical equipment, the grid, transport and communication infrastructure. Interim executive director Jonathan Ward notes the surprise of the rare aurora australis, or southern lights, sightings and emphasises the increased likelihood of similar storms.

Stay tuned for more news………….