News 08:00

BULLETIN 12 April 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC says the DA, PA and ACDP MPs’ Israel visit undermines solidarity with Palestine
# Eskom says the power system is stable
# And the Stormers captain could miss the remaining URC group fixtures

# The ANC has condemned a private visit to Israel by members of Parliament from the DA, PA and ACDP, calling it a betrayal of South Africa’s stance on human rights violations against Palestinians. News24 reports, the trip, which was not sanctioned by Parliament, has drawn criticism for endorsing what the ANC calls false narratives about Israel. The DA and ACDP claim the trip was done in a personal capacity, while the PA has refused to reveal who funded it.

# The Forum for South Africa says the alleged rape of Cwecwe in Matatiele, Eastern Cape, highlights countless unreported child abuse cases. FOSA leader Tebogo Mashilompane says justice for Cwecwe could empower more children to speak out. Mashilompane says the group blames poor investigations, corruption, and delays for failed outcomes. He says the organisation demands criminal law reforms and action against all implicated officials:

# Eskom says load-shedding remains suspended, with the power system remaining stable. Emergency reserves are adequate and being used strategically to meet peak demand, while ongoing planned maintenance continues at 14.85-percent of generation capacity, marking a 3.8-percent increase compared to the same period last year. Eskom spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena says currently, seven-thousand-402-megawatts of the generation capacity is under planned maintenance:

# US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg yesterday about the search for a peace deal on Ukraine as Trump told Russia to ‘get moving’. Putin was shown on state television greeting Witkoff in St. Petersburg’s presidential library at the start of the negotiations. State news agencies later said the talks lasted more than four hours. A statement by the Kremlin afterwards said the talks covered various aspects of a peace deal in Ukraine.

# And, Rugby: Stormers captain Neethling Fouché could miss the rest of his team’s United Rugby Championship group matches after he was punished for a red card in the recent match against Ulster. He was given a four-match ban after being shown red for foul play. The disciplinary panel found the incident warranted a six-match ban, but it was reduced because of his good record. Fouché appealed unsuccessfully, but his sanction could be reduced by a week if he completes the coaching intervention programme.

Stay tuned for more news………….