News 09:00

BULLETIN 14 December 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Malema accuses Zuma of abusing black unity amid EFF members’ defection to MK Party
# Eskom awaits Labour Department approval for further investigations into Matla Power Station explosion
# And, tennis: 2022 doubles champions Kokkinakis and Kyrgios will again team up in Australian Open

# EFF leader Julius Malema has criticised former president Jacob Zuma, accusing him of abusing black unity. This follows the defection of top EFF members, including Floyd Shivambu and Dali Mpofu, to Zuma’s MK Party. Speaking at the party’s third national people’s assembly in Johannesburg, Malema questioned Zuma’s commitment to black consciousness, particularly during his presidency and the struggles of youth demanding free education as examples of his failure to support black unity:

# Eskom Group CEO, Dan Marokane says the power utility is waiting for the approval from the Department of Labour to access the area of the explosion at Matla Power Station in Mpumalanga for further investigations. Nine employees were hospitalised, one critically injured and two discharged. Unit 6 of the power station was damaged, and unit 5 was taken offline for safety. Addressing the media, Marokane said that an energy loss could have caused the explosion however it is inconclusive:

# Higher Education and Training minister Nobuhle Nkabane, urges prospective applicants to apply for funding for next year from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme before Sunday’s deadline. Nkabane says since applications opened in September, over 738-thousand students have applied for funding. She says of these, 543-thousand-357 applications have been provisionally approved, while 150-thousand-655 are still under evaluation:

# Cape Town police have launched a manhunt for Shepart Chfutuku, a detainee who escaped through the roof of a prison transport van en route to Pollsmoor Prison. According to News24, the escape occurred near a Muizenberg railway crossing, with members of the public alerting officers. Chfutuku, detained on robbery charges, is believed to be linked to an armed robbery syndicate and is considered dangerous. Police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie urges anyone with information to contact crime stop.

# And, tennis: The men’s doubles champions of 2022, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios, will again team up in next month’s Australian Open. The Australians beat compatriots Max Purcell and Matthew Ebden in the final in Melbourne two years ago, but multiple injuries kept Kyrgios off the court for most of the time since. The first Grand Slam tournament of the year starts on the 12th of next month, when the top male and female players, Jannik Sinner of Italy and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, will start defending their singles titles.

Stay tuned for more news………….