News 13:00

BULLETIN 19 July 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa condemns Israel’s attacks on Damascus
# Eskom says its system will maintain stability
# And a mother and baby lose their lives in an eThekwini house fire

# South Africa has strongly condemned Israel’s latest attacks on the Syrian capital Damascus, and says the air strikes near the presidential palace are a flagrant violation of the country’s territorial integrity and international law. The spokesperson for the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, Chrispin Phiri, says Israel’s announcement that it will continue to occupy Syrian territory south of the capital Damascus is a serious threat to Syria’s sovereignty:

# Eskom says with 44 days of its winter outlook period remaining, the system remains well-positioned to maintain stability and meet demand effectively. Eskom spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, says this sustained performance is largely due to ongoing structural improvements in the generation fleet. Since 15 May this year, there has been no load-shedding, with only 26 hours recorded between the first of April and 17 July:

# A mother and her 18-month-old baby have died when their home caught fire at the Kennedy Road Informal Settlement in eThekwini early this morning. The city’s spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana, says eThekwini Municipality’s Fire and Emergency Services, as well as disaster management teams, responded swiftly to the devastating fire just after midnight. She says emergency personnel worked tirelessly to contain and extinguish the blaze:

# Five suspects are expected to appear before the Sekhukhune Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo on Monday in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a 43-year-old Ugandan woman. Police spokesperson, Malesela Ledwaba, says the victim was threatened and kidnapped at gunpoint on Tuesday by the suspects when she was travelling through Atok village. He says the suspects then contacted the victim’s relative and demanded a substantial ransom for her release:

# Soccer: Nigeria eased into the semifinals of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with a thumping 5-0 victory over one of the pre-tournament favourites, Zambia, in their quarterfinal clash in Casablanca on Friday. Goals from Osinachi Ohale, Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Oluwatosin Demehin, and Folashade Ijamilusi capped a commanding performance from the Super Falcons. They will now meet the winner of the fourth quarterfinal on Saturday between South Africa and Senegal in the last four in Casablanca on Tuesday, for a place in the final in Rabat on 26 July.

# Rugby: Selection for the upcoming Rugby Championship should be more than enough motivation for the Springboks when they face minnows Georgia in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, this afternoon. This is the final preparation before South Africa starts the defence of their title against Australia at Ellis Park on 16 August. Although the Wallabies aren’t a force in world rugby anymore, their series against the British and Irish Lions is expected to make them a much bigger challenge than the opposition the world champions faced so far this season.

Stay tuned for more news………….