News 11:00
BULLETIN 21 November 11 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The South African Federation condemns the government’s hostility and discrimination against Israel
# Stage two and three load-shedding being implemented until further notice
# And in soccer, Benjamin Mendy is suing Manchester City over unpaid wages
# The South African Zionist Federation says it condemns South Africa’s increasingly antagonistic and discriminatory position against Israel. This comes after Israel’s decision to recall its ambassador to South Africa, Eliav Belotserkovsky, as Parliament is expected to vote on whether to close the Israeli embassy. The federation’s chairperson, Rowan Polovin, says the government’s one-sided and irresponsible rhetoric, and refusal to engage in dialogue with Israel, has prevented South Africa from playing any meaningful role in ending the current war or in any future peace efforts:
# Eskom says due to the imminent forced shutdown of two generating units this morning, stage two load-shedding is being implemented from nine this morning until this afternoon at four. This is instead of stage one which was previously communicated. The power utility’s Crisis Communication Manager, Menzi Mngomezulu, says stage three will then be implemented, adding that they will continue to monitor the system for any significant changes:
# The DA says the evolving Transnet rail and port crisis is threatening to collapse South Africa’s entire export sector and by extension the national economy. Transnet estimates that backlogs and delays in moving shipping containers through its key port in Durban have so far cost it at least 160-million-rand in lost revenue since September. The DA’s Mimmy Gondwe, says they are demanding a clear multi-agency response to map out the bottlenecks at ports, with a view to providing interim measures that will provide relief:
# Funding applications for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme for the next academic year are set to open this week. Despite challenges leading to delayed allowances, thousands of prospective students can apply for funding to study at public higher education institutions. Higher Education minister Blade Nzimande is expected to provide details on the application process today. The two-month application period will last until the end of January, allowing for the completion of the South African Revenue Service’s tax period. Prospective students are urged to apply promptly to avoid last-minute rushes.
# Soccer: Former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has filed a multi-million-rand claim with the Employment Tribunal over unauthorised wage deductions. He was charged with rape and sexual assault in 2021, but in July this year, the 29-year-old was found not guilty by a jury in a retrial at Chester Crown Court in England. It is alleged that Manchester City stopped paying Mendy in September 2021, after he was initially charged. The defender is seeking the return of pay he is owed up until the end of his contract, which ended in June.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-32-cents and the euro at 20-rand-7-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-95-cents and Bitcoin trades at 37-thousand-348-dollars-70-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-991-dollars-73-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-66-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….