News 11:00

BULLETIN 18 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# FlySafair cuts several routes due to soaring jet fuel costs and lower demand
# Eskom says the inclement weather increases demand
# And rugby: Bok scrumhalf Morné van den Berg returns for the Lions after injury

# South Africa’s largest domestic airline, FlySafair, was forced to cut several routes due to soaring jet fuel costs and lower passenger demand. It continues to review its network. The airline’s chief marketing official, Kirby Gordon, says they don’t anticipate major network cuts at present, but cannot afford to operate unprofitable routes. News24 reports although global oil prices have eased a bit this week, the price of jet fuel is still nearly double from before the start of the Middle Eastern conflict.  

# The ANC Women’s League has welcomed the Judicial Services Commission’s decision to find Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge guilty of gross misconduct, effectively rendering him susceptible to impeachment. Secretary-General Nokuthula Nqaba says the guilty verdict came after he was alleged to have pursued unwanted sexual advances towards a junior staffer between 2021 and 2022. She says the league has always been on the side of the victim.

# Eskom says it is experiencing increased power supply demand due to inclement weather conditions. The South African Weather Service has issued a warning for thunderstorms with heavy downpours and damaging winds in parts of the country until Monday. Eskom’s spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, says they continue to deliver a reliable and resilient electricity supply, supported by strengthened generation performance, increased available capacity, and a reduction in reliance on emergency generation:

# The National Consumer Commission has welcomed the amendment of a regulation of the Consumer Protection Act to curb spam calls. It was gazetted by Trade, Industry, and Competition minister Parks Tau. Spokesperson Phetho Ntaba says the amended regulations establish the opt-out registry system while providing mechanisms for consumers to cancel unwanted direct marketing. She says all direct marketers must register to ensure compliance with the act and the regulations:

# Rugby: Springbok scrumhalf Morné van den Berg returns to action for the Lions in today’s United Rugby Championship clash with top of the table Glasgow Warriors at Ellis Park. He was injured against Edinburgh almost a month ago. Former Blitzboks star JC Pretorius is also back and was chosen on the bench. The Lions are currently fifth on the log with just three group matches left after today, and still have a good chance of ending in the top eight and qualifying for the quarterfinals.

# And finally: Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Blade Nzimande, launched a staggering 41 new research chairs. The department established the South African Research Chairs Initiative in 2006. Nzimande says the programme aims to attract and retain excellence in research and innovation at South African public universities through establishing research chairs with a long-term investment trajectory of up to 15 years:

Stay tuned for more news………….