News 08:00

BULLETIN 5 January 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Eskom says an additional three-thousand-760-megawatts is expected to return online on Monday
# The ANC calls for positive solutions on changes to the Community Work Programme
# And Cricket: A dream day at Newlands with the Proteas dominating Pakistan

# Eskom says it remains on track to meet electricity demand and an additional three-thousand-760-megawatts is expected to return online by Monday evening. Acting spokesperson, Aubrey Sambo says the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor is at 24.94-percent for the financial year-to-date, improving from 32.93-percent in the corresponding period last year. He says this reduction factor represents a 8.1-percent improvement compared to the same period last year:

# The ANC is calling on government to find a positive solution that will not disadvantage over 65-thousand beneficiaries of the Community Work Programme. Government has announced the termination of the contracts for participants aged 55 and older by 31 January 2025. ANC spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri says the programme has long been a cornerstone of government’s efforts to address unemployment and poverty by providing a vital safety net for unemployed South Africans of working age: 

# The South African National Christian Forum has welcomed Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa for signing the Death Penalty Abolition Act into law with immediate effect. Forum president Marothi Mashashane says Zimbabwe joins 24 countries across sub-Saharan Africa that have abolished the death penalty for all crimes, while two additional countries have abolished it for ordinary crimes only. He says the death penalty by nature is not part of the African culture as it was brought during the colonial era.

# A judge has ordered that Donald Trump will be sentenced on 10 January in his hush-money case in New York, less than two weeks before he is set to be sworn in as president. New York Justice Juan Merchan signalled he would not sentence Trump to jail time, probation or a fine, but instead give him an unconditional discharge. Trump had attempted to use his presidential election victory to have the case against him dismissed. Trump is currently set to be the first convicted felon to serve in the White House.

# And cricket: Newlands on Saturday saw another dream day with the Proteas firmly in control against Pakistan at the end of day two of the second Test. At stumps, the tourists were on 64 for three, a massive 551 behind South Africa’s first innings of 615 runs. Ryan Rickelton’s 259 runs was the seventh highest Test score by a South African ever. It was also the first time the Proteas carded a score of 600 or more since Centurion in 2021 against Sri Lanka. Mohammad Azam and Mohammad Rizwan will resume play for Pakistan this morning.

Stay tuned for more news………….