News 07:00

BULLETIN 13 January 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Eskom escalates load-shedding to stages 3 and 4 this weekend
# South Africa disputes Israel’s justification for Gaza operation
# Cricket: Paarl Royals beat Pretoria Capitals by 27 runs

# Eskom has raised load-shedding to stages 3 and 4 for the weekend due to setbacks, including the shutdown of six generating units. Acting spokesperson Aubrey Sambo discloses a delay in returning three generating units to service. Stage 3 will be enforced from 5 AM to 4 PM, transitioning to stage 4 from 4 PM to 5 AM tomorrow. Sambo confirms the same pattern for tomorrow and promises a further update for the week ahead:

# Justice and Correctional Services minister Ronald Lamola reaffirms the government’s stance that self-defence does not justify genocide, regardless of the magnitude of the threat. He addressed a media briefing in The Hague in the Netherlands following the conclusion of South Africa’s charge of genocide against Israel. Lamola refutes Israel’s claim that government leaders’ comments lack genocidal intent. Despite rain, Palestinian supporters outside the court expressed gratitude for South Africa’s standpoint. Lamola condemned Hamas’s 7 October attacks:

In another development, the Palestinian assistant minister of Multilateral Affairs Ammar Hijazi has dismissed Israel’s argument at the International Court of Justice, saying it lacks both fact and legal merit. This follows after South Africa sought provisional measures to safeguard Palestinians, with the court tasked with assessing the case’s strength rather than determining Israel’s guilt. According to Hijazi, the global community’s commitment to justice and ending humanitarian atrocities in Palestine resonates profoundly:

# The South African Rainbow Alliance has issued a call for unemployed South Africans with qualifications to join their ranks and potentially fill positions in Parliament. The organisation aims to enlist 250 unemployed graduates to serve in the National Assembly and various provincial legislatures following the upcoming elections. SARA president Colleen Makhubele stresses the importance of young people actively participating in politics, saying failure to do so could perpetuate decay and corruption. She urges the youth to take control of their future and not leave decision-making solely to the older generation.

# And, cricket: The Paarl Royals beat the Pretoria Capitals by 27 runs last night in their SA20 encounter. Paarl Royals batted first on their home ground and scored 160 for 7 in their 20 overs, while Pretoria Capitals answered with 133 for 7. Tomorrow, Pretoria Capitals and Paarl Royals face each other at half-past four in the afternoon in Centurion.

Stay tuned for more news………….