News 06:00

BULLETIN 26 February 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA, EFF, and IFP offer their condolences following the death of nine ANC members
# Eskom implements stages 2 and 3 load-shedding until further notice
# And, SAPS refutes claims that Bheki Cele used an official helicopter in his personal capacity

# Political parties have offered condolences following the death of nine ANC members in an accident yesterday morning. The members were travelling home to Mpumalanga from the launch of the ANC Election Manifesto in Durban, when the bus they were travelling in overturned near Dumbe, Paulpietersburg, in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The DA hopes that comfort and solidarity surround everyone impacted by this tragedy. The EFF says in this election period it is important to show empathy, while the IFP says this tragedy is a reminder of the bonds that unite everyone in times of sorrow.

# Eskom says it has been able to replenish emergency reserves over the weekend sufficiently, therefore it can ease load-shedding this week. Stage two is currently being implemented until four in the afternoon followed by stage three until five tomorrow morning. This pattern will continue until further notice. The power utility expects a total of four-thousand-170 megawatts of generation capacity to be returned to service by Wednesday.

# The South African Police Service has refuted claims that minister Bheki Cele used an official chopper at the ANC election manifesto for his personal use. The DA is demanding that Cele be billed in his personal capacity for making use of the SAPS helicopter, saying it was a clear abuse of state resources. National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says the chopper like in any other major event, was deployed to the ANC event to monitor the large crowd, and Cele used it in his capacity as Police minister.

# A 38-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly holding his wife, children, and a family friend hostage, and shooting three police officers at a house in Klopperpark in Bedfordview, east of Johannesburg yesterday. Police spokesperson, Mavela Masondo, says they received a complaint that a woman and children were being held hostage by the husband. He says when police arrived at the house, the suspect fired shots at them and also shot the family friend:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says he will forever fondly remember Namibia’s late president Hage Geingob’s brotherly love. Ramaphosa was one of the 25 heads of state and former presidents, who attended Geingob’s funeral yesterday. He died in hospital while being treated for cancer on the fourth of this month. Ramaphosa says he remains inspired by the dedication Geingob demonstrated towards his work, his undoubted commitment to the wellbeing of his people, and his desire to see a peaceful, united, and developing Africa.

# Cricket: India reached 40 without loss at stumps on day three of the fourth Test against England in Ranchi, needing another 152 to clinch the series. The host resumed the day on 219 for seven in their first innings, with Dhruv Jurel scoring 90. England spinner Shoaib Bashir took his first Test five-wicket haul to help bowl India out for 307, giving the visitors a lead of 46. However, England were bowled out for 145 in their second innings. Bashir believes they can still win the match:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-32-cents and the euro at 20-rand-90-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-47-cents and Bitcoin trades at 51-thousand-504-dollars-83-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-33-dollars-19-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-30-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….