News 18:00

BULLETIN 10 February 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Build One South Africa says 2026 is zero hour for South Africa ahead of SONA
# The Forum for South Africa condemns Nersa’s approval of an additional 54.7-billion-rand in allowable revenue for Eskom
# And, Thabo Bester’s plea to stop his transfer to eBongweni prison rejected

# Build One South Africa has called on president Cyril Ramaphosa to use Thursday’s state of the nation address to deliver decisive action and a clear national reset. The party says 2026 is a ‘zero hour’ for South Africa, with communities facing crime, unemployment, high living costs and failing services. BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane urges Ramaphosa to restore integrity to policing and the justice system, accelerate economic growth, fix failing infrastructure and improve education:

# The Forum for South Africa has expressed grave concern and strong opposition to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s approval of Eskom’s additional allowable revenue of 54.7-billion-rand. This will result in consumers being saddled with electricity price hikes of 8.76-percent in the 2026/2027 financial year, effective from April 1, and 8.83-percent for the 2027/2028 financial year. FOSA leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, says Nersa’s decision is unjustifiable and socially reckless:

# The High Court in Pretoria has struck from the roll an urgent application by convicted killer and rapist Thabo Bester challenging his transfer to eBongweni Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal. Bester’s lawyers argued that the move prevented them from consulting with him ahead of his main trial. However, Judge Mamoloko Kubushi ruled the matter was not urgent. Bester, who previously escaped from Mangaung Correctional Centre, has complained about conditions at the country’s only super-maximum-security facility.

# French president Emmanuel Macron has warned Europe should brace itself for more moments of US hostility. He urges European Union leaders to use this week’s summit in a Belgian castle to inject fresh energy into economic reforms to bolster the bloc’s global power. Macron says the continent should treat what he called the “Greenland moment” as a wake‑up call to push through long‑delayed reforms. He renewed his call for the EU to offer European debt to world markets who are increasingly wary of the US dollar.

# Rugby: Versatile forward Hadjivah Dayimani will reportedly play for the Stormers for the remainder of the season. He leaves his French club, Racing 92, to fill the gap left by injuries to locks Salmaan Moerat and Ruben van Heerden. Dayimani played for the Cape team when they won the United Rugby Championship in 2022 before moving overseas. News24 reports he is expected to join the Stormers later this week and be available for their next URC game against the Lions in Johannesburg on the 28th.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-92-cents and the euro at 18-rand-97-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-410-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-61-dollars-23-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-91-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….