News 15:00

BULLETIN 10 May 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The death toll in the George disaster rises to twelve
# The DA accuses Eskom of burning diesel to prevent load-shedding before the elections
# And boxing: The Arts and Culture Department consults with stakeholders for the Boxing SA board selection

# The death toll in Monday’s building disaster in George has risen to twelve after three more bodies were recovered from the collapsed building. A total of 41 people are still unaccounted for.

# The DA alleges Eskom is deliberately burning diesel to avert load-shedding in the lead-up to the elections on 29 May, fuelling suspicions of manipulation for political gain. The party says it has evidence, indicating political pressure from the ANC government on the power utility’s operations. The DA’s Mimmy Gondwe says the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s latest data reveals Eskom’s alarming depletion of diesel budgets, with over half of the first quarter’s budget spent in just one month:

Meanwhile, South Africa is set to provide a new timeline for the shutdown of coal-fired power plants in a bid to secure 48-billion-rand in climate finance. The timetable to be proposed to the Climate Investment Fund in June aims to ensure the country remains on track to obtain funding under the Just Energy Transition Partnership. The Project Management Unit, which is overseeing the partnership, says what they will present to the fund is an adjustment to the decommissioning plan linked to an emissions target.

# Cosatu supports the Older Persons Amendment Bill and urges Parliament to expedite the adoption of this long overdue progressive legislation. The bill proposes several measures to improve the protection and care of elderly persons. Cosatu’s Matthews Parks says an important part of efforts to build a more caring society is ensuring the most vulnerable are protected:

# The main United Nations aid agency for Palestinians closed its headquarters in East Jerusalem, after local Israeli residents set fire to areas at the edge of the compound. The head of the agency, Philippe Lazzarini, says the lives of UN staff were at a serious risk. He says Israel as an occupying power has the responsibility to ensure that UN personnel and facilities are protected at all times. Lazzarini says groups of Israelis had been staging regular demonstrations outside the compound for the past two months.

# Boxing: Arts and Culture minister Zizi Kodwa and deputy minister Nocawe Mafu will consult with Boxing South Africa stakeholders to select prospective board candidates. Consultations are being held today in order to allow stakeholders to provide feedback on the potential appointees. Spokesperson Litha Mpondwana, says they have until Monday to submit comments, and the announcement of board appointments will be made shortly after:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-39-cents and the euro at 19-rand-39-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-5-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-944-dollars-38-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-372-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-35-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….