News 12:00

BULLETIN 31 January 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Stage four load-shedding is a high possibility this weekend
# Minister Simelane threatens legal action against journalists who reported on her lavish spending
# And cricket: South Africa’s Under-19 Women are into the final of the T20 World Cup

# Eskom has issued an alert for the high risk of load-shedding up to stage four this weekend. This follows over ten months of uninterrupted power supply.

ActionSA has meanwhile expressed concern at energy regulator Nersa’s decision to approve Eskom’s sixth multi-year price determination revenue application for the next three financial years. The approved tariff increases are 12.74-percent for 2025/’26, 5.36-percent for 2026/’27, and 6.19-percent for 2027/’28. ActionSA’s Alan Beesley says even though the increase is lower than Eskom’s original request, it’s still well above the current inflation rate, which will be devastating for struggling households and businesses:

# Human Settlements minister Thembi Simelane is threatening legal action against journalists who reported on her finances, alleging defamation and privacy violations. A Daily Maverick and News24 investigation found that between 2015 and 2020, Simelane spent millions of rand in cash on luxury items. These included a Mercedes-Benz Viano, handbags, the acquisition of a coffee shop in Sandton, and a multi-storey mansion in Pretoria when she was mayor of Polokwane. Simelane has demanded that the journalists remove three articles, a short documentary, and social media posts on her questionable wealth.

# The Border Management Authority facilitated the legitimate movement of over five-million travellers across South Africa’s 71 ports of entry during the 2024/’25 festive period. This number represents an increase of 51-thousand-680 travellers compared to the previous festive period. OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng facilitated the majority of travellers at over one-million. BMA commissioner Michael Masiapato says they processed over nine-thousand-491 aircrafts through the country’s international airports:

# Cricket: South Africa’s Under-19 Women defeated Australia by five wickets in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to book their spot in the T20 World Cup final for the first time. Ashleigh van Wyk’s four-wicket haul saw the Proteas restrict Australia to 105 for eight. In reply, Jemma Botha top-scored with 37 off 24 balls as South Africa reached the target with eleven deliveries remaining. The victory sees South Africa maintain their unbeaten status at the tournament. They will face India in Sunday’s final.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-55-cents and the euro at 19-rand-28-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-5-cents and Bitcoin trades at 104-thousand-117-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-796-dollars-18-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-76-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The National Arts Festival’s former CEO, Tony Lankester, has been appointed as new CEO of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society in Scotland. He spent twelve years running the festival in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape, broadening the festival by increasing its global footprint by touring multiple productions to Fringe Festivals in Australia, the UK, the USA, and across Europe. The society’s chairperson, Benny Higgins, says as they build towards the organisation’s 80th anniversary year, Lankester’s leadership will be key in ensuring its long-term sustainability.

Stay tuned for more news………….