News 11:00

BULLETIN 8 March 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The South African National Energy Development Institute says Eskom’s summer outlook is not relevant
# Gene Hackman and his wife’s causes of death have been revealed
# And tennis: The top-seeded Zverev crashes out to Griekspoor at Indian Wells

# An energy expert from the South African National Energy Development Institute, Sampson Mamphweli, says Eskom’s summer outlook is irrelevant. The country remains on Stage 3 load-shedding until Monday. An unexpected Koeberg Unit 2 shutdown and coal supply issues at Kusile have worsened the crisis. Eskom aims to restore six-thousand-200 MegaWatts by Monday while replenishing emergency reserves over the weekend. He says there will be higher risks of load-shedding:

# The Supreme Court of Appeal, in Bloemfontein in the Free State, has reserved judgment on the state’s appeal in the Nulane case. The state is appealing a High Court ruling that cleared eight accused, including government officials and Gupta-linked associates, of fraud, money laundering, and financial misconduct. Investigating Directorate Against Corruption spokesperson Henry Mamothame says the case involves a 25-million-rand contract awarded to Nulane Investments for a feasibility study for the provincial Agriculture Department:

In its reaction, Open Secrets says the National Prosecuting Authority mishandled the Nulane fraud and corruption case. Open Secrets’ Michael Marchant told Newzroom Afrika that this was a slum dunk case:

# Gene Hackman’s wife died from a rare infectious disease around a week before the actor died from heart failure. The couple were found dead in their New Mexico home on 26 February, along with one of their dogs. According to post-mortem investigations Betsy Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. During a press conference on Friday the medical examiner said Hackman had advanced Alzheimer’s and quite possibly was not aware that his wife was deceased. The actor tested negative for hantavirus, which is spread by infected rodent droppings.

# And tennis: Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor stunned top-seeded Alexander Zverev 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 in the second round at Indian Wells on Friday. The world number two who is heading the field of the prestigious ATP Masters event, is the first Indian Wells men’s top seed to lose his opening match since Andy Murray in 2017. The defeat continued a lacklustre run for Zverev since he fell to Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open final. Since then, the German had made early exits at Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Acapulco.

Stay tuned for more news………….