News 06:00
BULLETIN 18 March 6 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Deputy president Mashatile says the ANC will win the elections despite negative polls
# Stage 2 load-shedding is implemented until further notice
# And, Joburg Water implements more interventions to ease water challenges
# ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile says despite negative polls against the ruling party, they are confident that they will win the upcoming elections. Numerous polls show that the ANC support is likely to plummet below 50-percent in the 29 May general elections, paving for the possibility of a coalition government. Campaigning in the North West yesterday, Mashatile, says they don’t focus much on the polls as they are speculative:
# Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi says he has asked the Special Investigating Unit to probe a top North West government official, who managed to gain employment with a fake residency permit. Kudakwashe Mpofu, from Zimbabwe, worked as the chief financial officer of the North West Development Corporation. He has been fighting to stop the department from deporting him. Motsoaledi has described this matter as a national embarrassment:
# Eskom says stage two load-shedding was implemented from five this morning until further notice. This is due to the loss of two generating units over the past 24 hours, and the increase of planned maintenance as part of the power utility’s plan to improve its generation fleet reliability. Eskom’s spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, says a total of three-thousand-830 megawatts of generating capacity is anticipated to return to service by Wednesday:
# Johannesburg Water will implement more interventions to ease water supply challenges. The utility has blamed the heatwave in Gauteng and low rainfall for the high demand it is experiencing, which is putting a strain on its systems. Johannesburg Water says it will be throttling reservoir outlets to balance the systems, leading to poor pressure or no water at all. It adds that the current demand is more than it can supply.
# Russia’s Defence Ministry says its forces have destroyed dozens of drones in several regions across the country. The biggest attack happened in Krasnodar, where an oil refinery was targeted. In Ukraine, officials report new Russian air strikes on Odesa. The attacks come as Russia holds a controversial general election in which president Vladimir Putin is guaranteed to win. The BBC reports two Ukrainian drones attacked a polling station, setting the building on fire but causing no deaths or injuries.
# Rugby: Ireland reportedly regards the Springboks as the next challenge they need. The Irish claimed their 16th Six Nations title on Saturday with a 17-13 win over Scotland. The back-to-back champions finished the campaign with their 19th consecutive win on home soil. Ireland’s next challenge is a tour to South Africa in July for the first time in eight years, to face the reigning Rugby World Cup champions in Pretoria and Durban. Ex-Ireland international Andrew Trible told Virgin Media Sport the clashes will be enormous.
# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-76-cents and the euro at 20-rand-42-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-88-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-574-dollar-40-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-122-dollars-55-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-53-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….