News 06:00
BULLETIN 16 January 6 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The DA criticises minister Pandor’s 47-million-rand travel expenditure
# Stage 2 load-shedding is extended until Wednesday
# And, a United Nations agency says the crisis in Gaza is a man-made disaster
# The DA has exposed minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor and her department, for their extravagant spending, revealing that over 47-million-rand has been allocated to travel, accommodation, and related costs since 2019. The revelation, stemming from a parliamentary question, has raised eyebrows, especially given the ongoing cost-cutting measures imposed by the National Treasury in critical service sectors such as housing, health, and education. The DA’s Emma Louise Powell says the lavish spending contrasts sharply with the austerity measures recommended for essential services:
# Eskom says stage two load-shedding will continue until Wednesday after at four. Over the weekend, efforts to return units to service improved generation capacity, allowing a brief suspension of load-shedding Sunday night. The sustained improvement in generation capacity and the anticipated lower demand also necessitated the implementation of Stage 2 load-shedding until Wednesday afternoon. Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena says unplanned outages and planned maintenance contribute to challenges, with power station general managers working diligently to restore 739 megawatts of generating capacity as planned:
# The National Student Financial Aid Scheme has affirmed its readiness to address student issues, responding to criticism about its call centre. Some students faced challenges accessing the call centre, with NSFAS attributing this to high call volumes. The call centre, handling an average of 160 calls concurrently, frustrated some students during the January application period. The general manager for student support, Vuyo Mafilika, says many of the previous issues have been resolved.
# ActionSA’s Tshwane deputy mayor nominee doctor Nasiphi Moya says she appreciates that the task that lies before her is a mammoth one, but it is necessary to ensure the enduring stability of services to residents. A report approved by the council last year estimated that housing the deputy mayor would cost around two-million-rand a year. Moya says this role will bring an opportunity to focus on transversal functions related to infrastructure development, repairs, and maintenance:
# The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees says the humanitarian operation in Gaza has fast become one of the most complex and challenging in the world. Over 100 days into the Israel-Hamas conflict, intense Israeli bombardments have continued across much of the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of over 20-thousand Palestinians. The agency’s commissioner-general, Philippe Lazzarini, says the crisis in Gaza is a man-made disaster compounded by dehumanising language and the use of food, water, and fuel as instruments of war.
# Soccer: The English Premier League has charged Everton and Nottingham Forest for alleged breaches of the league’s Profitability and Sustainability rules. Premier League clubs can lose a maximum of 2.5-billion-rand over three years and 833-million-rand a season. Everton was deducted ten points in November last year for a breach of profitability and sustainability rules in a different case, which the club is appealing. Both clubs have been referred to an independent commission.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-75-cents and the euro at 20-rand-48-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-80-cents and Bitcoin trades at 42-thousand-607-dollars-1-cent. Gold sells at two-thousand-50-dollars-54-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-97-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….