News 18:00

BULLETIN 28 August 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cabinet applauds Eskom’s progress as load-reduction is eased in seven provinces
# The MK Party names mayoral candidates for six metros
# And, Nepal flood rescue efforts enter a critical stage

# Cabinet has welcomed Eskom’s continued progress, with seven provinces achieving load-reduction status ahead of the October target. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says about 1.2-million customers have been restored to normal supply, while affected customers now account for 6.8-percent of Eskom’s base. She also welcomes the reduction in diesel spending by more than 83-percent year-on-year:

# The MK Party has endorsed mayoral candidates for six metropolitan municipalities ahead of the local government elections on 4 November. The candidates are former DA mayor Bongani Baloyi for Johannesburg, Thulani Shongwe for Ekurhuleni, Zandile Hlophe-Mkhwanazi for eThekwini, Mapaseka Mothibi for Mangaung, Mzwandile Vaaiboom for Buffalo City and Mvuleni Map for Nelson Mandela Bay. The party’s Sibonelo Nomvalo says the candidates will lead MK’s campaign to grow its presence in key metros:

# Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has pledged to create at least 500-thousand more jobs over the next five years if the DA retains control of the city in the local government elections. He says the metro created 418-thousand jobs over the past five years, almost half of all new jobs across South Africa’s eight metros. Hill-Lewis says the city’s job strategy focuses on investment, infrastructure, cutting red tape and supporting businesses:

# Rescue operations in Nepal and bordering Tibet are entering a critical stage as teams search for hundreds of missing people after devastating flash floods. At least 469 people have died in Nepal, with nearly a thousand still missing. In Tibet, 558 people are unaccounted for. Rescue teams have also had to contend with the threat of a second flood from a newly formed lake, where a landslide has blocked a river. The lake is already overflowing, forcing teams to pause operations while its stability is assessed.

# Rugby: Wallabies coach Les Kiss overhauled his forward pack for tomorrow’s Test against Argentina in Jujuy in line with his rotation policy. Captain Harry Wilson is rested and prop Allan Alaalatoa will lead Australia. Among the changes, Rob Valetini was given Wilson’s usual number eight jersey, Tom Hooper returns from injury at blindside flanker, and Fraser McReight was picked at number seven. The backline is the same which beat Japan in Townsville recently. Victory for Australia will see them improve to seventh in the world rankings.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-11-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-70-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 79-thousand-288-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-555-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-47-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….