News 15:00

BULLETIN 5 January 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa approves memorandum aimed at securing stable electricity supply
# Correctional Services confirms Oscar Pistorius is now a parolee
# And, rugby: Wandisile Simelane joins Stormers from Bulls

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved a memorandum of understanding between Public Enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan and Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to combat the ongoing electricity crisis. The memorandum clarifies their respective responsibilities, focusing on ending load-shedding and implementing the Energy Action Plan. Ramokgopa will oversee Eskom’s operations, improve generation capacity, and develop financing models, while Gordhan remains the shareholder representative and leads Eskom’s restructuring. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the memorandum will be operational until the end of the current administration.

# The Department of Correctional Services has confirmed that convicted murderer Oscar Pistorius is now at home after being officially released on parole this morning. The 37-year-old former Paralympian champion convicted of the 2013 murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, was granted parole in November. He was released into the care of his uncle, Arnold Pistorius, who lives in Waterkloof, Pretoria. The department’s spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo, says having served eight years of his 13-year and eight-months sentence, Pistorius will be on parole until the expiration of his sentence:

# N3 Toll Concession says peak traffic conditions are expected to continue on the N3 Toll Route between KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Gauteng this weekend as more holiday makers return home. Busy traffic conditions were experienced this week with highs of between one-thousand and one-thousand-900 vehicles per hour traveling northbound, towards Gauteng. N3 Toll Concession operations manager, Thania Dhoogra says road users should especially be prepared for high northbound traffic volumes, including possible congestion and delays, on Sunday between 9am and 6pm:

# Limpopo’s Department of Health says it is on high alert following cholera outbreaks in neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia. The province is yet to record a case following these outbreaks. As more and more migrant workers return to the country for work, the risk of imported cases are on the rise. The department’s spokesperson, Neil Shikwambana says Limpopo borders Mocambique on the east, Zimbabwe on the North, and also hosts Beitbridge Border Post, which is one of the busiest borders in the country.

# Rugby: The Bulls’ dynamic outside back, Wandisile Simelane, has joined the Stormers squad and will link up with his new teammates next week. The former Junior Springbok star makes the move to Cape Town in a trade with Cornel Smit, who joins the Pretoria team. The versatile Simelane, can play centre, wing and fullback and will add yet more firepower to the Stormers backline. He will be available for selection immediately. Stormers head coach John Dobson says Simelane is a welcome addition who will fit his team’s game model perfectly.

Stay tuned for more news………….