News 08:00

BULLETIN 9 March 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Eskom assures maintenance efforts to prevent load-shedding
# An expert welcomes a streaming levy for SABC funding
# And rugby: The Sharks clinch the SA Shield in a nailbiter against the Lions

# Eskom CEO Dan Marokane says South Africa can expect a stable summer as intensive maintenance efforts continue. Speaking to the media, he confirmed that three-thousand-200 megawatts, including Kusile units, have been restored to the grid. An additional 750 megawatts are set to return today, with two-thousand-800 megawatts expected by Monday morning. He assured that measures are in place to prevent setbacks leading to load-shedding:

In another development Electricity and Energy minister Kgosientso Ramokgopa has expressed disappointment over the implementation of Stage 3 load-shedding, warning it will hinder economic growth. Providing an update on generation performance, Ramokgopa said the measure was necessary to protect and replenish reserves. Ramokgopa assured that Eskom is addressing challenges to improve grid performance and ultimately end load-shedding. He remains confident that planned maintenance efforts are progressing positively:

# Streaming expert Leslie Adams has rallied her support for a streaming levy implementation for the SABC. Communications minister Solly Malatsi announced that plans are underway to explore a streaming levy to address the SABC’s financial struggles. Responding to a parliamentary question from the IFP on alternative funding, Malatsi said the levy would apply to all South Africans using local and international streaming services. Adams says streaming levy models will assist with the SABC’s financial strain.

# The Trump administration is immediately pulling 7.3-billion-rand of federal funding from Columbia University, saying it failed to fight anti-Semitism on campus. The New York college was the epicentre of pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses last year against the war in Gaza and US support for Israel. A spokesman for Columbia told the BBC that the university is reviewing the announcement and pledged to work with the government to restore its federal funding. Columbia is one of the most prestigious universities in the US and has about 30-thousand students.

# And rugby: The Sharks beat the Lions 25-22 in a tight United Rugby Championship contest at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday. For the home team Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi scored a brace of tries, with Grant Williams and Nick Hatton also going over. Jordan Hendrikse succeeded with a penalty and a conversion. The Lions’ points came from tries by Tapiwa Mafura, Richard Kriel and Franco Marais, with two conversions and a penalty from the boot of Gianni Lombard. The bonus-point win was enough for the Sharks to win the SA Shield.

Stay tuned for more news………….