NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 19 November 12 pm

Good afternoon,

In this bulletin:

# Eskom CEO says the pylon collapse at the Lethabo power station was sabotage
# A  researcher says electric minibus taxis are is a solution to help with climate change mitigation
# And Cricket: AB de Villiers retires from all formats of the sport

# Eskom CEO André de Ruyter says the pylon collapse at Lethabo power station in the Free State, was deliberate sabotage. The power utility found that supports attached to a small pylon carrying power lines that feed electricity to the power station’s overland coal conveyor, was cut, which caused it to topple over onto a backup power line. De Ruyter says the Hawks are investigating the incident:

Play sound: ENGAndrédeRuyter

De Ruyter says load-shedding will be suspended at 9 pm this evening and the outlook for the weekend and next week looks good.

# It might be a while before South Africa sees electric minibus taxis on the roads. However, when the time comes, drivers will be able to tap into the country’s abundant solar energy resources to power them. This is according to researchers from Stellenbosch University, who conducted the first study on the energy requirements of electric minibus taxis on journeys. Lead researcher Thinus Booysen says given the country’s abundant sunlight, it still has an excellent chance of harnessing this renewable energy source to power electric vehicles:

Play sound: ENG BooysenOnTaxis

# South African citrus growers are discussing a set of revisions to their current phytosanitary systems with the European Commission’s standing committee on plant health. This follows after a year of high black spot and false codling moth interceptions in Europe. Deon Joubert of the Citrus Growers’ Association says the revisions come after intensive meetings between the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development and stakeholders. He says the cold chain system works but was never designed to cope with a breakdown in logistics during the unrest in Kwazulu-Natal.

# Cricket: AB de Villiers has announced his retirement from all formats of the sport. In a statement, he says ever since the backyard matches with his older brothers, he has played cricket with pure enjoyment and unbridled enthusiasm. De Villiers says now, at the age of 37, that flame no longer burns so brightly. He adds cricket has been exceptionally kind to him, whether playing for the Titans, the Proteas, or the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.

# Financial indicators: The dollar is trading at 15-rand-67-cents and the euro at 17-rand-75-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-8-cents and Bitcoin trades at 57-thousand-103-dollars-9-cents. Gold is selling at one thousand-853-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-62-cents a barrel.

# And finally: National police commissioner, Khehla Sitole, has officially handed over the Sword-of-Command to the first female provincial commissioner in Mpumalanga, Semakaleng Manamela. This took place at a medal parade at the Mbombela Stadium yesterday. A spokesperson says she assumed office in July taking over the reins from Mondli Zuma, whose five-year term came to an end in March this year. On the parade with Manamela were 30 members who received their 30-year Loyal Service Medals.

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