NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 17 November 12 pm

Good afternoon,

In this bulletin:

# Eskom will implement stage two load-shedding at 2pm this afternoon
# The Institute of Security Studies says South Africa needs a stable policing system
# And cricket: Usman Khawaja is recalled into the Australian squad for the Ashes

# Eskom CEO André de Ruyter has announced stage two load-shedding will be implemented from 2-pm today until 5-+`am on Saturday. This has been necessitated by further breakdowns of generation units. He says there are currently boiler tube leaks at Kusile in Mpumalanga and Medupi in Limpopo. De Ruyter says due to this the system is under immense pressure:

Play sound: ENGAndrédeRuyter

# The Institute of Security Studies says South Africa needs a stable policing system that is responsive and innovative, and better attuned to the policing needs of a democracy. Public opinion surveys indicate the SA Police Service is one of the least trusted and most corrupt components of government. The institute’s David Bruce says police should fully embrace a non-militaristic ethos towards public service and minimal use of force. Bruce adds the police leadership, and the governance system that oversees policing in the country, must also be revitalised.

# The manufacturer of a vaccine that helps against African Horse Sickness as a transmittable disease, says they are aware of the growing concerns relating to the current shortage and unavailability of the vaccine. A spokesperson for Onderstepoort Biological Products, Zipho Linda, explained the breakdown in some of their equipment has interrupted the production of certain products, including the vaccine. Contingency plans are being implemented and the company hopes to ensure the vaccine is available early next month.

# Cricket: Batter Usman Khawaja has been named in a 15-man Australian squad for the first two Ashes Tests against England. His last Test appearance came during the 2019 Ashes series. Uncapped legspinner Mitchell Swepson, Travis Head and Jhye Richardson have also been included in the squad. Six players from the T20 World Cup-winning team, who only arrived back in Australia yesterday, feature in the squad. The first Test starts in Brisbane on the eighth of next month, before a day-night match in Adelaide from the 16th.

# Financial indicators: The dollar is trading at 15-rand-47-cents and the euro at 17-rand-51-cents. One British pound costs 20-rand-80-cents and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-643-dollars-7-cents. Gold is selling at one thousand-859-dollars-92-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-8-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The one-year-old son of Springbok and Lions prop Jannie du Plessis and his wife Ronel tragically drowned in their swimming pool in Johannesburg yesterday. Springbok front-ranker Toks van der Linde says on his social media page the baby, who carried his father’s name, Jan Nathaniël, was christened on Sunday. Yesterday was also the prop’s birthday. Du Plessis, who is a qualified medical doctor, played 70 Tests for the Springboks between 2007 and 2015.

For the latest news stay tuned to ………….