News 08:00

BULLETIN 2 April 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA is calling for urgent action to reform the electricity pricing model
# Minister Gwarube publishes the draft Learner Pregnancy Regulations
# And, Artemis II lifts off successfully with four NASA astronauts on board

# The DA says it is advocating for a new, fair and transparent pricing policy that prioritises affordability, accountability, and the diversification of the energy market. As of April 1st, electricity tariffs increased by around 8.7-percent for customers directly supplied by Eskom for the 2026/2027 financial year, while another increase of 8.83-percent is scheduled for this time next year. The DA’s Kevin Mileham says the tariff hikes are unaffordable and unjustifiable:

# Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube has published draft Basic Education Laws Amendment regulations on learner pregnancy for public comment. The proposals aim to protect the right to education, ensuring pregnant learners remain in school and return after childbirth without discrimination. Schools must provide supportive environments and link learners to health and social services. The draft also requires reporting pregnancies involving learners under 16 to authorities. Public comments can be submitted within 30 days from March 25, 2026, through the Department of Basic Education.

# The EFF in Gauteng says the appointment of its provincial chairperson, Nkululeko Dunga, as the new MEC for Finance is a progressive step towards strengthening governance and ensuring stability within the administration. Dunga replaces the ANC’s Lebogang Maile, who has been reassigned to lead the Education portfolio. The EFF’s spokesperson, Sinawo Tambo, told Newzroom Afrika that they believe in Dunga’s leadership capabilities, discipline, and ability to work within a collective, while safeguarding and advancing the political programme of the party:

# Cricket: The Delhi Capitals began their Indian Premier League campaign with a six-wicket victory over the Lucknow Super Giants. Lungi Ngidi and Thangarasu Natarajan took three wickets each as Lucknow was bowled out for 141 in 18.4 overs. In reply, player of the match Sameer Rizvi hit a 47-ball unbeaten 70 and shared an unbroken 119-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs, to lead the Capitals to victory with 17 balls to spare. Today, the Kolkata Knight Riders take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-95-cents and the euro at 19-rand-58-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-45-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-787-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-676-dollars-73-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 103-dollars-76-cents a barrel.

# And finally, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Artemis II successfully blasted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida yesterday evening, launching toward the Moon for the first lunar voyage in over 50 years. Four astronauts, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, are aboard the Orion spacecraft on a ten-day mission to circumnavigate the moon. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman says the mission could travel farther from Earth than any human ever has, breaking the Apollo 13 distance record:

Stay tuned for more news………….