News 09:00

BULLETIN 19 October 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Eskom reaches the longest uninterrupted power supply in five years
# The DA calls for public submissions to expose weaknesses in the SASSA system
# And, cricket:  World Cup history beckons for the Proteas women

# Eskom has reached yet another milestone with 206 days of no load-shedding. It is the longest stretch of uninterrupted power supply in five years. Eskom spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, says Eskom’s energy availability factor averaged 62-percent over the past week and 63-percent year-to-date:

# The DA urges the public to share their concerns about the South African Social Security Agency’s grant payment system. This follows the Portfolio Committee on Social Development’s decision to seek an urgent response from SASSA about potential fraud and inefficiencies, particularly in the Social Relief of Distress grant process. The DA’s Alexandra Abrahams says they aim to expose flaws in the system and ensure accountability, ahead of a crucial meeting on 23 October: 

# Saftu says former Labour minister Membathisi Mdladlana who passed away on Friday was one of the most honest servants of the working class. The 72-year-old was an ANC member of Parliament for the country’s first-ever democratic administration in 1994.  Saftu’s spokesperson, Mogoshadi Maserumule, says Mdladlana represented the original values of the ANC:

# An Israeli air strike has killed at least 33 people including 21 women at a refugee camp in Jabalia in northern Gaza. According to a statement from Gaza’s Hamas-run government media office, Friday’s air strike also injured more than 85 people, some seriously. Israeli forces have been besieging the densely populated camp at Jabalia for weeks. The director of the al-Awda Hospital said there was an overwhelming influx of casualties. About 400-thousand people have been trapped inside the camp with little food or water for more than two weeks.

# And, cricket: South African cricket will have another opportunity perhaps their best yet, to win a first-ever cricket World Cup. The Proteas are set to face New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final on Sunday. The women are aiming for their first-ever World Cup win after defeating Australia in the semi-finals. New Zealand beat the West Indies by eight runs in the second semi-final played in Sharjah on Friday.  Sunday’s final in Dubai starts at 4 pm South Africa time.

Stay tuned for more news………….