News 06:00
BULLETIN 28 November 6 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The DA petitions Eskom over alleged misleading load-shedding schedules
# Liezel de Jager’s husband is officially charged with her murder
# And, Israel and Hamas extend the humanitarian ceasefire by a further two days
# The DA has petitioned the Eskom system operator over alleged misleading load-shedding schedules. The party questions Eskom’s adherence to the national code of practice for load-shedding, citing concerns of potential violations. They call for an investigation into whether the power utility is intentionally deviating from regulations and if such actions have an impact on consumers. The DA’s Samantha Graham-Maré says industry experts suggest some areas experienced 12 hours of load-shedding daily, consistent with stage eight, contrary to Eskom’s claim of stage six:
# The Human Sciences Research Council’s findings from the Sixth South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Behaviour Survey reveal a positive trajectory in the battle against HIV. The survey reveals a commendable decrease in HIV prevalence from 14-percent in 2017 to 12.7-percent last year, aligning with UNAIDS targets. Key highlights include a 90-percent awareness of HIV status among those aged 15-years and older, with 91-percent on antiretroviral treatment and 94-percent achieving viral load suppression. Despite progress, regional and demographic disparities persist, urging ongoing collaborative efforts.
# The Johannesburg High Court has issued an order instructing the City of Johannesburg to improve living conditions for victims of the Marshalltown fire within three months. The survivors, displaced by the deadly fire three months ago, were moved to temporary shelters in Denver. The court order mandates the installation of prepaid electricity meters, additional ablution facilities, four standpipes, and 20 more sanitation facilities serviced weekly. The municipality is also directed to appoint a security company to prevent land invasions on the site.
# The husband of NG Kerk Suidkus reverend Liezel de Jager has officially been charged with her murder. Werner de Jager appeared in the Amanzimtoti Magistrate’s Court in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday, where the case was postponed to the seventh of next month. Thirty-eight-year-old de Jager was strangled to death and her body was found in the driveway of her home in Amanzimtoti in October 2021. Action Society’s, Ian Cameron, says they hope that the court process and justice will be swift:
# Militant group Hamas has confirmed that it has agreed to an extension of the four-day temporary humanitarian ceasefire with Israel by a further two days. The initial truce expired yesterday. It saw the release of a total of 69 hostages, primarily women and children, and Israel freed 150 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas says the extension of the ceasefire was under the same conditions as the previous four days. Qatar, which has been mediating the talks between Israel and Hamas, has welcomed the extension.
# Rugby: Springboks Manie Libbok and Damian Willemse will return to the Stormers for the weekend’s United Rugby Championship game against Zebre in Stellenbosch. The Cape team, who won the cup in the 2021/21 season and was runner-up the next year, is currently in 12th place on the log after losing all four matches on their European tour. Coach John Dobson says Bok prop Frans Malherbe and utility forward Deon Fourie may also be available this weekend. Fourie may join later after the death of his father.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-61-cents and the euro at 20-rand-40-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-53-cents and Bitcoin trades at 37-thousand-198-dollars-25-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-15-dollars-41-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 80-dollars-6-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….