News 11:00

BULLETIN 18 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# An energy analyst says the demand for Eskom’s electricity is declining
# A total of 17-thousand police members will be deployed to high-risk voting stations in KwaZulu-Natal
# And the UN Relief Agency says more must be done to guarantee sustainable peace in Gaza

# Energy analyst Chris Yelland says businesses and households are using less power derived from Eskom, which explains the continued suspension of load-shedding. Today marks the 22nd consecutive day without load-shedding, with the power utility attributing this to sustained generation capacity. Yelland says alternative sources of electricity, such as rooftop solar and commercial installations, are supplementing the national power utility’s electricity generation. He adds that increasing electricity costs could strengthen businesses’ search for alternative sources of electricity.

# The general industries union, Giwusa, says while there has been a deceleration in inflation, the prices of basic goods like food, clothes, and hygiene items remain high. The latest Consumer Price Index report shows a 5.3-percent overall increase in prices between March last year and March this year. The union argues this indicates a deepening financial crisis. Giwusa’s Koketso Phasha calls for government intervention to address these escalating costs and prevent further economic inequality and potential social unrest:

# More than 17-thousand police members will be deployed to high-risk voting stations in KwaZulu-Natal at a cost of 40-million-rand. The province will host the highest number of voting stations, four-thousand-974 among the over 23-thousand for the upcoming elections. There are about 173 high-risk voting stations in KwaZulu-Natal. Since 2011, more than 150 politicians have been killed in the province. Provincial police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, says they will ensure crime-free elections.

# The United Nations’ Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East says a political process alone will not guarantee sustainable peace in Gaza. Since the Israel-Hamas war started, 178 personnel of the agency have been killed and more than 160 of its premises, mostly used as shelters, have been damaged or destroyed. The agency’s head, Philippe Lazzarini, told the UN Security Council they are being denied permission to deliver aid and save lives:

# Cricket: England fast bowler Jofra Archer has admitted he will struggle to cope with any more injury setbacks. He has been plagued by a litany of fitness problems since bursting onto the international scene in 2019. Archer last played competitively in May last year when he sustained a repeat stress fracture in his right elbow. He says he hopes to return in time for the T20 World Cup in the US and his native Caribbean in June.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-97-cents and the euro at 20-rand-27-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-75-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-193-dollars-86-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-378-dollars-68-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollars-29-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….