News 12:00

BULLETIN 7 February 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Load-shedding is reduced to stage one
# The Labour deputy minister says stronger connections are needed to fight unemployment 
# And Rugby: There are injury worries for Scotland before the Six Nations clash with France

# Eskom has reduced load-shedding to stage one at ten this morning until two this afternoon, which will then be followed by stage two until further notice. The power utility says this is due to sufficient emergency reserves and a slight increase in available generation capacity, resulting in the return to service of two units. It adds that the power system is being closely monitored for any significant changes which will be communicated should it be required.

# Employment and Labour deputy minister, Boitumelo Moloi, says stronger connections among employers, education providers, and the youth are key to fighting unemployment. The deputy minister took part in a Jobs and Careers Fairs session in the Western Cape yesterday. The department’s spokesperson, Teboho Thejane, says mindsets need to change, innovations need to be sought, and collaborations strengthened, to bring a halt to the staggering unemployment rate amongst the youth:

# The South African Medical Association Trade Union has noted that about 100 Cuban doctors are working in South Africa, despite over one-thousand qualified local doctors remaining unemployed. Health minister Joe Phaahla stated that Cuban doctors serve in rural areas with specialised skills, challenging the notion of employing local doctors in these roles. The union’s Cedric Sihlangu says resolving the crisis of unemployed doctors requires urgency and political will:

# The US House of Representatives has rejected a Republican-led bill that would provide more than 331-billion-rand in aid to Israel. The vote was 250 to 180, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed for the bill to be passed. Democratic congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, says the US must adhere to its laws and policies, which prohibit American aid from assisting forces engaged in gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law:

# Rugby: Scotland’s preparations for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with France in Edinburgh has suffered a setback with the news two players will miss the rest of the competition. Lock Richie Gray and flanker Luke Crosbie both sustained injuries during the one-point victory over Wales in the opening round. Full-back Blair Kinghorn is expected to miss this weekend’s game as well after a knee injury kept him out of the opening game. Winger Darcy Graham and prop WP Nel are expected to resume training this week.

Stay tuned for more news………….