News 09:00

BULLETIN 15 April 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Eskom is accelerating the deployment of renewable energy solutions
# The DA calls for urgent action to fill public health vacancies
# And motorsport: Red Bull is warned to give Verstappen a better car

# Eskom says it remains focused on a balanced and diversified energy mix based on existing coal and nuclear and introducing gas for baseload power, as well as renewables, energy storage systems, and pumped hydro. The power utility has issued a tender seeking private partners for a separate Renewable Energy Business, to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy solutions. Eskom’s spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, says they have an executable initial pipeline of at least two gigawatts of clean energy projects by 2026:

# The DA says it is a travesty that despite being ten-thousand vacancies in the public healthcare system, only one-thousand-500 of these posts are being advertised. On average, there is one doctor for every two-thousand patients in the state’s healthcare system. The DA’s, Michele Clarke, says decades of looting of the Department of Health has left hospitals and clinics severely understaffed, underfunded and facilities in dire need of repair:

# City Power says it will be taking legal action against News24 and journalist Khaya Koko. This is concerning an article published on Monday titled POWER CONNECTIONS: Fake Qualifications and Poor Appointments – why City Power is Crumbling. City Power’s spokesperson, Isaac Mangena, says the claims made in the article are baseless. He adds that they have already lodged a complaint with the Press Ombudsman regarding the conduct of Koko:

# The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has trimmed its 2025 global oil demand growth forecast for the first time since December. OPEC cites weaker first-quarter data and US trade tariffs. It says that demand is now expected to rise by 1.30-million barrels per day, down 150-thousand from last month. The oil cartel also lowered global economic growth projections, warning of increased uncertainty.

# Motorsport: Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko believes the Formula One team will have to come up with an improved car to keep the services of four-time world champion Max Verstappen. The Dutchman is currently third in the drivers’ championship behind McLaren’s two drivers, Lando Norris from England and Australian Oscar Piastri, after winning just one of the season’s first four races. Marko says Red Bull will have to create a basis with a car so Verstappen can fight for the championship.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-85-cents and the euro at 21-rand-40-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 85-thousand-183-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-228-dollars-24-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-56-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….