News 09:00

BULLETIN 1 February 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cosatu says Eskom needs to address the billions it loses to corruption
# The Transnet corruption case has been postponed for trial
# And cricket: A big win for MI Cape Town against Pretoria Capitals in SA20

# Cosatu says Eskom needs to address the billions it loses to corruption, wasteful expenditure, cable theft and non-payments and stop dumping the bill on working-class families. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa has granted Eskom a tariff hike of 12.7-percent for 2025/2026 financial year. Cosatu’s spokesperson, Zanele Sabela says government needs to act decisively and deal with the 90-billion-rand debt owed to Eskom by municipalities:

Meanwhile, Eskom says the weekend load-shedding allows for the replenishment of the Open-Cycle Gas Turbines and pumped storage reserves in preparation for next week. The power utility implemented stage three load-shedding until Sunday midnight after it encountered a temporary setback. Eskom spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena says they are committed to ensuring that South Africa is in no way returning to the levels of load-shedding that citizens experienced in 2023:

# The Johannesburg High Court has postponed the Transnet locomotives corruption case to 2 February next year for trial. Former executives including Brian Molefe and business associates face charges of fraud, corruption, and money laundering over a 54-billion-rand contract. Investigating Directorate Against Corruption spokesperson Henry Mamothame says the court ordered further case particulars to be resolved by 30 June:

# Congolese troops with support from Burundi’s army appeared yesterday to be holding back a push south by Rwandan-backed rebels. The rebels are seeking to expand their grip on eastern Congo in a weeks-old advance that has raised fears of a broader regional conflict. Earlier this week the Tutsi-led M23 rebels seized Goma, the largest city in the east of Democratic Republic of Congo. The governor of South Kivu, Jean-Jacques Purusi, told Reuters  the Congolese army and its allies have succeeded in holding back the rebels. Thirteen South African soldiers recently died in the conflict.

# And cricket: MI Cape Town powered to the top of the SA20 log last night after registering a 27-run win against hosts, Pretoria Capitals, in Centurion. After being set a massive 223 to win, the Capitals were restricted to 195 for 8. Earlier, the visitors posted a mammoth 222 for 3, with Dewald Brewis and Reza Hendricks leading the charge. MI Cape Town and the Capitals meet again in Cape Town tomorrow, while Paarl Royals face Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Gqeberha this afternoon.

Stay tuned for more news………….