News 07:00

BULLETIN 19 September 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA challenges Eskom’s proposed tariff hikes
# Denosa says women’s safety is a right, not a privilege
# And rugby: The Springboks will face Fiji before the 2027 World Cup

# ActionSA Gauteng caucus leader Funzi Ngobeni has submitted objections to NERSA over Eskom’s proposed 2027/28 electricity tariffs. Eskom is seeking an average 8.83-percent increase for direct customers, while municipal bulk purchases would rise by 8.84-percent. Ngobeni says lower-usage households could face bigger effective increases because of higher fixed charges. In addition, ActionSA is also questioning an unexplained 8.5-billion-rand revenue difference and wants Homelight customers protected from fixed charges. Public comments close on 2 October, with hearings scheduled for 8 October.

# Nursing Organisation Denosa calls for stronger police visibility in Gauteng following the discovery of several women’s bodies in Ekurhuleni over the past two months. The organisation says the killings are causing fear among nurses, many of whom travel early in the morning and late in the day using public transport. Denosa’s Lebogang Phasha demands urgent and transparent investigations, safer public spaces and stronger community measures to prevent gender-based violence and femicide:

Meanwhile, the DA in Gauteng is calling for greater cooperation between the provincial government, police, communities and civil society to address violence against women. The party believes the focus should be on finding those responsible for the killings, improving policing and forensic capacity, and preventing further deaths. The DA’s Solly Msimanga says families of the victims deserve justice, while women in the province need stronger action to improve their safety.

# Public Service Commission chairperson professor Somadoda Fikeni says many government processes are driven by compliance rather than their intended value. Testifying at the Madlanga Commission, Fikeni said financial disclosures are often treated as a compliance check exercise. Fikeni argues that asset disclosures should focus on transparency and accountability, rather than simply declaring compliance with regulations:

# French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said Russian hybrid attacks against Europe and France have intensified, and promised a response. He was speaking after meeting political party leaders in Paris and warned that critical infrastructure, including defence industry sites, needed greater protection from drone and cyberattacks. Macron said France would not leave the recent incidents unanswered. He accused Moscow of trying to intimidate Europeans and weaken support for Ukraine. France’s interior minister said all relevant government services and local authorities would be mobilised to prepare for the growing threat.

# And lastly, rugby: The Springboks will face Fiji in their final warm-up match before the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. The Test will be played in Gosford, north of Sydney, on 18 September next year, just over two weeks before South Africa begin their title defence against Italy. It will be only the fourth meeting between the two countries, with Fiji having reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 2023. Rassie Erasmus says Fiji are one of the world’s top 10 teams and will provide a strong final test before the tournament.

Stay tuned for more news………….