News 12:00

BULLETIN 8 July 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Cape provinces still experience extreme winter weather
# President Ramaphosa says government cannot yet rule out the possibility of further load-shedding
# And, tennis: Murray is extremely disappointed after his Wimbledon career comes to a sudden halt

# With the first of several cold fronts making landfall yesterday, Western Cape premier Alan Winde says disaster teams are monitoring the impacts of the prevailing inclement weather. Yesterday saw severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and heavy rainfall across the province, with localised flooding reported in the West Coast and Cape Winelands Districts. Winde says there is a level six warning today for disruptive snowfall over the mountains, as well as the southern high ground of the Namakwa District:

The Eastern Cape Department of Transport has meanwhile said Barkly Pass on the R58 between Barkly East and Lady Grey is closed for traffic due to heavy snowfall. The department’s spokesperson, Unathi Binqose, urges road users to be extra cautious when approaching some of the high lying areas and mountain passes as snow continues falling, mainly in the northern parts of the province:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the electricity system remains vulnerable, despite the country experiencing over 100 consecutive days without load-shedding. Eskom has attributed this improvement to its generation operational recovery plan, the stepping up of maintenance schedule, and the improvement in the performance of power stations. In his weekly newsletter, the president says the possibility of further load-shedding cannot be ruled out yet. Ramaphosa adds however that the improvement in the reliability of power supply is a boost to the national economy.

# Millions of Gauteng learners might miss out on school meals when the third term begins tomorrow due to a tender dispute. This follows an urgent application by LTC Holdings to be heard in the High Court in Pretoria on the 27th. The one-billion-rand tender to feed over one-million learners is part of a national programme. LTC claims the tender process was flawed. The Gauteng Education Department is reviewing the application.

# Tennis: Former world number one Andy Murray expressed extreme disappointment after his Wimbledon career came to a sudden halt. British compatriot Emma Raducano unexpectedly withdrew from their mixed doubles partnership due to a stiff wrist, saying she couldn’t play doubles on top of singles. Thirty-seven-year-old Murray, who won Wimbledon in 2013 and ’16, hinted earlier he would retire after the Olympic Games. He had to withdraw from the singles, and he and his brother Jamie were defeated in the first round of the men’s doubles.

# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-15-cents and the euro at 19-rand-67-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-26-cents and Bitcoin trades at 56-thousand-438-dollars-72-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-376-dollars-91-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-99-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….