News 09:00

BULLETIN 19 November 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Stage 3 load-shedding from 9am
# DA encourages voter registration for positive change
# And, cricket: Sleepless India fans ready for World Cup title clash

# Stage 3 load-shedding will be implemented from 9am this morning until 5am on Monday. Eskom will communicate the outlook for the week ahead this afternoon.

Earlier, Eskom announced the successful synchronisation of Unit 1 at Koeberg Power Station to the grid after replacing three steam generators. According to Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokoena, this marks a major milestone in the generation operational recovery plan and aligns with Eskom’s strategic objectives. Mokoena highlights that the outage for Unit 1 was the longest in the station’s history. Mokoena says the outage for Unit 2 will commence, once Unit 1 achieves stability, with all necessary commissioning tests completed:

# The DA is urging all eligible unregistered voters to participate in the voter registration process at the various IEC centers nationwide. Speaking in Cape Town, DA Member of Parliament Gregory Krumbock emphasised the importance of voting for a government that works. He asserts it is time to liberate millions of South Africans from the failures of an ANC-led government, highlighting the DA as the party that gets things done:

# Government has acknowledged Standard and Poor’s decision to affirm the country’s long-term foreign and local currency debt ratings at ‘BB-minus’ and ‘BB’, respectively. The agency attributes the stable outlook to a credible central bank, a flexible exchange rate, and an actively traded currency. Positive indicators include increased private-sector investment in power generation and renewables. The government has announced its commitment to boosting gross domestic product growth by improving electricity provision, optimising logistics and enhancing infrastructure delivery over the next three years.

# Cricket: Thousands of sleepless flag-waving fans sporting blue India jerseys clogged roads outside the world’s biggest cricket stadium early this morning, as excitement built ahead of the World Cup final later today between the hosts and Australia. The blockbuster conclusion of cricket’s showpiece tournament, with 48 matches over 46 days between ten teams at ten venues, wraps up today at the grand 132-thousand-seat arena named after prime minister Narendra Modi in India’s western city of Ahmedabad. AFP reports Modi will be joined at the game by Australian deputy prime minister Richard Marles.

# And finally: Police are urging parents and guardians to be vigilant in monitoring their children’s online activities amidst a surge in online predator incidents. This advisory follows the arrest of a 60-year-old suspect linked to an online sex ring targeting children in KwaZulu-Natal. The suspect was found in possession of thousands of disturbing images and videos containing child pornography. A joint operation by police and US Homeland Security has identified 27 suspects. Authorities recommend parents install software to block harmful content on their children’s devices.

Stay tuned for more news………….