News 15:00

BULLETIN 9 April  3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Mashatile assures the end of load-shedding this year 
# South Africans are warned to be cautious during severe weather conditions
# And, cricket: The Proteas Women are ready for the ODIs against Sri Lanka

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile has reassured South Africans that load-shedding will end this year. Speaking at a public lecture at the University of Johannesburg, Mashatile said strategic processes are in place to end load-shedding. He also credited strategic efforts by Electricity minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, and his team. Mashatile however cautioned that despite progress, only maintenance and new power station projects will continue to ensure a stable energy supply::

# Saftu says it is extremely worried that 23-billion-rand from the Unemployment Insurance Fund is being committed to supposed employment-creating schemes through the Labour Activation Programme. Saftu’s spokesperson, Trevor Shaku, says there is a possibility that these programmes are being implemented now because Employment and Labour minister, Thulas Nxesi and his cronies want to raise electioneering funds for the ruling party:

# Government says the National Disaster Management Centre, and provincial and local disaster management teams across the country are on high alert and assisting communities affected by heavy rains. Communities in flood-affected areas are urged to exercise caution as flooding continues. South Africans should ensure that children are safe and do not cross flooded roads, bridges and rivers. Communities affected by floods are urged to remain vigilant and listen to special warnings on radio, TV and verified social media accounts or from local authorities.

# Cricket: The first of three one-day internationals between the Proteas Women and Sri Lanka will be played at Buffalo Park in East London today. Following their 2-1 loss to Sri Lanka in the T20 series, the home-side is determined to bounce back. Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt expressed the team’s readiness to shift focus towards the longer format:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-51-cents and the euro at 20-rand-10-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-47-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-793-dollars-20-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-351-dollars-75-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-29-cents a barrel.

# And finally, Western Cape MEC of Mobility, Ricardo Mackenzie, is urging businesses and non-governmental organisations to partner with the department to tackle unemployment. The provincial government recently launched the Getting YOU to Work programme. It offers free travel vouchers for unemployed jobseekers to get to interviews. Each travel voucher includes 12 free rides using Golden Arrow Bus Services, on weekdays between eight in the morning and four in the afternoon. Mackenzie says the programme removes the transport barrier faced by many jobseekers.

Stay tuned for more news………….