News 08:00

BULLETIN 25 September 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Eskom says its revenue application to Nersa is based on costs it will incur to efficiently provide electricity
# The SANDF faces over R600-million in civil claims due to soldier misconduct
# And, Biden says a diplomatic solution to the Middle East conflict is possible

# Eskom says it continues to provide reliable electricity services while improving its financial sustainability, through a migration to cost-reflective prices. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa has published the power utility’s controversial multi-year revenue application up until 2028. Eskom’s application to Nersa proposes a 36.15-percent hike during its 2026 financial year; 11.81-percent in 2027 and 9.10-percent in 2028. Eskom’s spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, says its revenue application is based on the costs it will incur to provide electricity to customers efficiently:

# The South African National Defence Force is facing claims exceeding 600-million-rand due to unlawful actions by its soldiers. Defence and Military Veterans minister Angie Motshekga revealed 155 claims mainly involving unlawful assaults, arrests, and detentions during operations. The defence force, already dealing with budget shortfalls, has not allocated funds for these claims. Experts warn that this situation reveals serious challenges within the SANDF, including discipline issues and the misuse of military forces for policing. The claims remain unresolved and are currently in court.  

# US president Joe Biden has called for an end to conflicts in the Middle East, saying a full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest. He gave his final address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York yesterday. Biden condemned Hamas for its seventh October deadly attack on Israel but also expressed sympathy for the millions of people suffering in Gaza, amid the ongoing Israeli operation. He says he strongly believes that a diplomatic solution is still possible:

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has unveiled a preliminary 32-man squad for their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo next month. Notable inclusions include captain Ronwen Williams, who makes a return from a shoulder injury, Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa, and Bradley Cross from Kaizer Chiefs. South Africa is level on four points with Uganda, who have a better goal difference, in group K. Broos is expected to trim down the squad to 23 players by next week.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-31-cents and the euro at 19-rand-39-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-24-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-238-dollars-9-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-661-dollars-7-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-88-cents a barrel.

# And finally, minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, together with the minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton Mackenzie, will today receive the mortal remains of former liberation heroes and heroines who passed away in Zimbabwe and Zambia. The event will take place at the Waterkloof Airforce Base. Then a homecoming ceremony will be held at Freedom Park in Tshwane on Friday. Deputy president Paul Mashatile says among the remains to be repatriated to South Africa are those of struggle stalwarts, Duma Nokwe, Florence Mophosho, and Basil February:

Stay tuned for more news………….