News 13:00
BULLETIN 24 November 1 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Load-shedding is escalated to stage 6
# President Cyril Ramaphosa shifts the export focus to rail amid the port backlog crisis
# And Cricket: Brilliant Brand gives South Africa A a chance in Benoni
# Eskom has bad news for South Africans who are already facing a weekend in a heat wave. Here is the utility’s spokesperson Daphne Mokoena:
# President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that products designated for export will temporarily be transported via rail to address the backlog at the Port of Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal, which is a major hub for coal exports. The move aims to alleviate congestion issues and improve efficiency. Ramaphosa also mentioned plans to invest up to 160-billion-rand in port improvements and emphasised the goal of transitioning more exports from trucks to railways. Ramaphosa spoke to the media after being taken on a tour to see the amount of businesses affected.
# The GOOD Party in the Western Cape says most farm labourers have, and continue to suffer intimidation, humiliation and threats in the course of eviction in the province. The party’s provincial Parliament spokesperson, Carlos Mesquita, says most farm evictions are in fact still illegal by virtue of the fact that the farm labourers do not know or understand their rights. He says farm labourers have been reduced to living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions in informal settlements after leaving their farm dwellings:
# Cricket: South Africa A captain Neil Brand led from the front with an innings-defining century on day three of the first four-day match against West Indies A at Willowmoore Park in Benoni. The 27-year-old struck 104 to help the home side reach 250, to set the visitors a target of 224. West Windies then ended the day on eight without loss and with 216 still to chase on the final day today. The second of three games between the two sides will begin on Tuesday in East London.
# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-94-cents and the euro at 20-rand-67-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-78-cents and Bitcoin trades at 37-thousand-558-dollars-35-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-994-dollars-37-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-38-cents a barrel.
# And finally: Two academics from the University of Pretoria, professors Mike Wingfield and Rangan Gupta, have once again been placed on Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers list for this year. They are among a group of only ten South African academics on the list. Clarivate released an annual list that recognises researchers who are making significant contributions to their respective fields. The UP’s vice-principal for Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Education, professor Sunil Maharaj says this global recognition demonstrates how highly the university values research excellence.
Stay tuned for more news………….