News 15:00

BULLETIN 8 November 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Water and Sanitation needs 90-billion-rand to fix water infrastructure backlogs
# Three people face preliminary charges over British singer Liam Payne’s death in Buenos Aires
# And cricket: Pakistan destroys Australia in the second ODI in Adelaide

# The minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, says her department needs almost 90-billion-rand to address the infrastructure backlog that is hampering access to clean water for all South Africans. She responded to a written parliamentary question by BOSA deputy leader, Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster. BOSA spokesperson, Roger Solomons says there have been attempts by the minister to pass the blame for South Africa’s water supply crisis from her department onto municipalities:

Meanwhile, the EFF in Gauteng blames the ANC’s cadre deployment for worsening Johannesburg’s water crisis, which has left areas like Midrand, Fourways, and Buccleuch without reliable water supply for nearly a week. Despite being part of the coalition government, the party claims unqualified individuals appointed to Johannesburg Water’s management have compromised the city’s ageing water infrastructure, leading to ongoing failures in supply. The EFF’s Dumisani Baleni argues political patronage has replaced technical expertise:  

# The DA has condemned Eskom’s proposed hike in fixed network charges, claiming it unfairly penalises South African solar power users. DA spokesperson Kevin Mileham warns that consumers could face massive bill increases, up to 321-percent, amid Eskom’s mismanagement. He says the DA demands that NERSA reject Eskom’s plans, advocating for a fairer, sustainable energy future that supports renewable investments:

# Three people are facing preliminary charges in Argentina for crimes related to the death of British singer Liam Payne. The former member of the boyband One Direction died last month after falling from the third floor of a hotel. A hotel employee and a suspected drug dealer are among the three people being investigated on suspicion of abandoning a person before a death, and the supply and facilitation of narcotics. The other person is someone who apparently spent time with Payne on a daily basis during his visit to Buenos Aires.

# Cricket: Pakistan beat Australia by nine wickets in the second one-day match in Adelaide to square the three-match series. The hosts were bowled out for 163 in their 35th over after Haris Rauf took five wickets. Steve Smith top-scored with 35 while none of the other batters could reach 20. Pakistan then surpassed the target in their 27th over with just one wicket down after a quick-fire 82 from just 71 balls from Saim Ayub. The decider will be played in Perth on Sunday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-47-cents and the euro at 18-rand-85-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-66-cents and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-349-dollars-50-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-688-dollars-83-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….