News 08:00

BULLETIN 9 November 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says South Africa joins Pope Leo XIV’s commitment to peace across the globe
# Rugby, The Boks take down France with an impressive final push
# And in cricket, Pakistan clinches the ODI series against South Africa 2-1

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa joins Pope Leo XIV’s commitment to peace, prosperity and equality across the globe. Ramaphosa was on his first visit to meet the Pope in Rome. He highlighted shared goals and financial reforms and multilateral cooperation for global challenges:

President Ramaphosa says his first meeting with Pope Leo X1V at the Vatican is of particular significance as it represents South Africa’s first high-level engagement with the newly appointed Pontiff. Ramaphosa says his ascension to papacy in May this year provided an important opportunity to reaffirm and strengthen bilateral relations with the Holy See. The president says South Africa is home to almost four million Catholics:

# Eskom says the higher energy availability factor has significantly reduced reliance on diesel generation, as more cost-effective primary energy sources are available. Eskom spokesperson, Daphne Mokoena says diesel expenditure for the past week was virtually zero, compared to 10.49-million-rand during the same period last year. She says this underscores the financial and operational benefits of improved generation availability:

# Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the City aims to be South Africa’s first to take over passenger rail following the tabling of a detailed Rail Business Plan. The plan was presented to the Urban Mobility Portfolio Committee, with the City Council set to consider its adoption on 4 December. Mayoral committee member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas says the plan provides a roadmap for how Cape Town’s passenger rail can be restored:

# Rugby: South Africa managed to beat a feisty French team with an impressive show of force in the final 15 minutes of their encounter at the Stade de France in Paris last night. The Bokke beat the Le Bleu 32-17, after trailing 13-14 at halftime. South Africa’s points came from 4 tries with 3 conversions and 2 penalties added by Man of the Match Sacha Feinberg-Mngomuzulu, who also scored a try. The hosts answered with two tries. Just before half-time Lood de Jager was red-carded for a high shoulder charge, leaving the Boks with only fourteen men. Their dominant scrummage towards the end helped them to victory.

# And finally cricket: Pakistan eased to a seven wicket victory in the third and final One-Day International in Faisalabad against the Proteas yesterday to clinch the series 2-1. South Africa elected to bat and made a good start to their innings with Quinton de Kock on 53 and Lhuan-dre Pretorius on 39. The Pakistan bowlers ripped into the Proteas with Abrad Ahmed taking four for 27 and Salman Agha two for 18, restricting the Proteas to 143 all out. Pakistan reach their winning total with a score of 144 for 3.

Stay tuned for more news………….