News 07:00

BULLETIN 8 March 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Eskom will replenish its emergency reserves amid Stage 3 load-shedding
# Trump lies again about South African farms being taken and offers long-time farmers refugee status
# And golf: Nadia van der Westhuizen claims the SuperSport Ladies Challenge title

# Eskom has announced plans to replenish emergency reserves and stabilise the grid this weekend as Stage 3 load-shedding continues. Koeberg Unit 2 remains offline, along with two Kusile units impacted by coal supply issues following adverse weather in the area. Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokoena says extra engineering resources are being deployed to expedite repairs. She says that six-thousand-200-MegaWatts is expected back online on Monday:

# American president Donald Trump repeated the lie that South African farms are being confiscated. In a post on his Truth social media platform he again offered refugee status for farmers and their families seeking to flee the country for safety reasons. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said the Presidency will not partake in counterproductive megaphone diplomacy. He added the country remains committed to a mutually beneficial political, trade and diplomatic relationship with the Trump administration. AgriSA CEO Johann Kotzé meanwhile told News24 Trump’s utterances did not reflect the reality he experienced.

# Millions of residents along Australia’s eastern coast are bracing for the strongest tropical cyclone to threaten the region in over 50 years. Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall this weekend with the strength of an Atlantic tropical storm. The cyclone has already whipped up hazardous waves along the coast, including one measuring a record 12.3 metres. Authorities warned millions of residents in the storm’s path to prepare for destructive wind gusts, flash flooding and storm surges that may combine with high tides.

# Golf: Nadia van der Westhuizen has won the SuperSport Ladies Challenge at Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club. She claimed victory by one shot despite a challenging final round, finishing on three under par. Kaiyuree Moodley secured second place on two under, while Casandra Alexander finished third. Van der Westhuizen described the course as brutal but said the win was special, boosting her confidence after missing her Ladies European Tour card last year:

# And the Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities will today commemorate International Women’s Day under the theme ‘accelerate action’. The event coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing declaration on women’s rights and the final five-years of the United Nations’ 2030 sustainable development goals. While women hold 46-percent of Parliamentary seats and 43-percent of cabinet positions, ministry spokesperson Nompendulo Mkhatshwa calls for stronger policies on financial inclusion, workplace protections, and equal opportunities for women.

Stay tuned for more news………….