News 16:00

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 15 November 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Load-shedding will not impact the special voter registration weekend
# ActionSA criticises the immigration reforms as a band-aid on a bullet wound
# And Cricket: Andrew Flintoff is the Northern Superchargers’ new head coach in The Hundred 

# The Independent Electoral Commission has assured the public that issues of load-shedding will not deter voter registration operations during the upcoming weekend. In an update on the IEC’s preparedness, CEO Sy Mamabolo said the technical operations have the capacity to operate both online and offline. He also confirmed that issues identified during dry runs, including the transfer of transactions onto the database, have been rectified. Mamabolo says the IEC has resolved infrastructure issues to ensure a smooth voter registration process:

Play sound: ENG-MamaboloOnLoad-shedding

# ActionSA has criticised Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s immigration legal reforms, calling them a ‘band-aid on a bullet wound. The party argues the root issue lies in the dysfunctional state of his department,  and porous borders. They plan to contribute input to the white paper before the January deadline. Party leader Herman Mashaba advocates for streamlined visa processes, anti-corruption measures, welcoming skilled professionals and investors who contribute to the economy legally:

Play sound: ENG MashabaOnReforms

# A world-first mobile in vitro fertilisation laboratory has been unveiled at the University of Pretoria to assist underprivileged communities access infertility care. This was revealed at the Access to Infertility Care symposium. The project is in collaboration with Belgium’s Hasselt University and non-profit organisation, The Walking Egg. Acting deputy director of Medical Science at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital’s Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Gerhard Boshoff, emphasises the goal of providing assisted reproductive technology services to economically disadvantaged and infertile couples in low- and middle-income communities.

# Cricket: Former England all-rounder and captain, Andrew Flintoff has been named new head coach of The Hundred team, the Northern Superchargers. This is the 45-year-old’s first stint in such a position after playing over 200 matches for his country in all three formats. He retired in 2009 and went on to become a commentator, brand ambassador and radio and television presenter. Flintoff, nicknamed Freddie, worked as a consultant coach with England’s team recently. Superchargers’ chairperson, Kirsty Bashforth describes him as an inspirational figure who will help them to create a unique culture.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-14-cents and the euro at 19-rand-70-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-61-cents and Bitcoin trades at 36-thousand-340-dollars-8-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-971-dollars-75-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-15-cents a barrel.

# And finally: University of Cape Town’s paleobiologist Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan has had a sabre-tooth cat species named after her. Chinsamy-Turan of the Department of Biological Sciences has been acknowledged for her groundbreaking work in deciphering the biology of animals that inhabited the West Coast five to seven million years ago. The fossilised remains of the species were unearthed alongside another new species in the West Coast Fossil Park near the Langebaanweg Air Force Base. This genus has also been discovered in locations spanning Kenya and Chad.

Stay tuned for more news………….