News 11:00
BULLETIN 26 September 11 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# National Task Team calls for a stronger response to GBV, femicide and hate-motivated violence
# The Acting Police Minister assesses policing capacity in Ekurhuleni
# And Iran awaits the US response to its proposal to open the Strait of Hormuz
# The National Task Team on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression and Sex Characteristics is calling for a stronger and coordinated criminal justice response to gender-based violence and femicide. This follows the discovery of nine bodies of women in Kempton Park and surrounding areas in Ekurhuleni over period of two months. The NTT says the murders highlight the links between misogyny, violent discrimination, femicide and violence against LGBTIQ-plus people. It is urging greater police visibility, thorough investigations and effective prosecutions, while encouraging victims and communities to promptly report hate-motivated violence to SAPS.
Meanwhile, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia conducted an oversight visit to Ekurhuleni to assess police readiness and capacity at station level. The visit included Kempton Park and Tembisa police stations, with a focus on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide and support for victims. The ministry’s spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi says Cachalia inspected the GBV desks and Victim Friendly Rooms at the stations against the backdrop of the recent discovery of ten bodies in Ekurhuleni:
# Eskom has recorded a 70.4-percent Energy Availability Factor for a second consecutive week, its highest level in six years. The improvement comes as South Africa marks 498 consecutive days without load-shedding, with the last planned outages recorded in May last year. Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena says the utility is strengthening the country’s energy security through improved operational and financial sustainability:
# Iran awaited an official US response to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end fighting in the wider Middle Eastern war. This comes as the Wall Street Journal reported that US President Donald Trump had rejected the deal. Iran raised the diplomatic initiative at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, saying it had been transmitted to the Americans via Qatari mediators and could reopen the strategic waterway and put an end to hostilities in the region within seven days.
# Rugby: Springbok Women co-captains Sizophila Solontsi and Unam Tose say they are ready for the expected Italian onslaught at Stadio Omero Tognon in Pordenone this afternoon. The team completed their preparations for the match, the second of their W-15 Global Series, yesterday. Solontsi said the match will be the perfect opportunity for redemption after they stuttered badly against Wales a week ago. She has captained the Springbok Women’s Sevens team on numerous occasions, but today’s match will be the first in which she shares that responsibility at Test level.
# And finally, specialist K9 company Luna Hounds says trained dogs are helping Macadamia farmers detect pests before they become visible. Speaking to Engineering News, Robynne Oosthuizen says the scent-detection trained dogs can identify a specific scale insect infestation with reported 99-percent accuracy, allowing growers to target treatment and potentially reduce insecticide use. The company says a trained team can search one hectare in eleven minutes when no infestation is present. The dogs detect changes in plant scent caused by pests, with results recorded and affected trees marked for further attention.
Stay tuned for more news………….