News 15:00

BULLETIN 15 January 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Load-shedding is downgraded to stage 2
# Umalusi confirms the arrest of 11 suspects for providing fake matric certificates
# And, cricket: The DA submits a PAIA application for CSA’s risk assessment report over Teeger’s captaincy

# Eskom has downgraded load-shedding to stage 2, citing improved generation performance and lower than anticipated electricity demand. Stage 2, which took effect at midday today, is scheduled to continue until 4 PM tomorrow. Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokoena says the power utility will provide an update on the week’s outlook later today.

# The Quality Council for General and Further Education and Training, Umalusi, has confirmed the arrest of 11 suspects from various parts of the country, including Limpopo and Pretoria, for selling fake matric certificates. Briefing the media on the assessment of matric results ahead of the scheduled release on Friday, Umalusi CEO Mafu Rakometsi announced that the suspects would appear in court this month. He cautions the public against obtaining fake matric certificates, emphasising the importance of legitimate qualifications:

# The Department of Health in Limpopo has confirmed two cases of cholera in the province. Both patients, Zimbabwean men aged 27 and 43 years old, exhibited symptoms upon returning from festivities and were promptly admitted for testing. The WHO classifies Cholera as a highly infectious disease caused by Vibrio cholerae, which can kill within hours if left untreated. Symptoms include severe diarrhoea, vomiting, and dehydration. The department’s spokesperson, Neil Shikwambana, urges the public to seek immediate medical attention if such symptoms arise:

# The City of Tshwane has identified 49 sinkholes as priority for repairs. This could cost more than 20-million-rand each to repair and take up to nine months to close. The city says that over half of the sinkholes are attributed to water and sewer leakages. It adds that it is working on prioritising and addressing these sinkholes to mitigate potential hazards, infrastructure damage, business loss and crime spikes caused by their presence.

# Cricket: The DA has submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act application to Cricket South Africa to obtain its risk assessment report following the decision to strip David Teeger of the captaincy of South Africa’s Under-19 cricket team. CSA explained this was done due to a security threat, while Juan James was given the captaincy for the World Cup starting in South Africa on Friday. Teeger is still in the team. The DA’s Veronica van Dyk says through the PAIA request, the party demands transparency from CSA:

# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-67-cents and the euro at 20-rand-43-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 42-thousand-570-dollars-41-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-51-dollars-84-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-68-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….