News 18:00

BULLETIN 16 September 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The minister of Electricity and Energy says the green hydrogen economy is now under construction
# Minister Pemmy Majodina apologises after profane outburst at a Kouga resident
# And, the Western Cape records a drop in serious and violent crime

# Electricity and Energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says South Africa’s green hydrogen economy has moved from concept to implementation. Speaking on behalf of president Cyril Ramaphosa at the Africa Green Hydrogen Summit in Cape Town, Ramokgopa announced the first wave of the national green hydrogen programme. The Saldanha Bay project has secured a final investment decision and offtake agreements. He says six priority projects focus on green ammonia, sustainable aviation fuel, and green steel:

Meanwhle, the Eskom general manager for Research, Testing and Development, Prudence Madiba, says women must move beyond representation to meaningful participation in the emerging green hydrogen economy. Speaking at the Women in Green Hydrogen luncheon in Cape Town, Madiba called for greater access to finance, leadership, procurement opportunities and skills development. Madiba also urged men to act as allies and mentors, helping women lead, innovate and own opportunities in the green economy:

# Water and Sanitation minister Pemmy Majodina has apologised for swearing at a Kouga resident during a recent public event in the Eastern Cape. In a statement, Majodina said she reacted in the heat of the moment but accepts responsibility and regrets using profane language, stressing that public representatives must remain respectful under pressure. The DA and ActionSA have lodged ethics complaints against her, while AfriForum has called for her resignation.

# The Western Cape recorded a drop in several serious crimes between April and June. Contact crime fell by 6.3-percent, murder by 6.7-percent, carjacking by 14.6-percent and house robbery by 15-percent. At stations targeted by Operation Prosper, contact crime dropped by 12.1-percent and murder by 16.8 percent. However, rape and sexual assault increased. The provincial police commissioner Sizakhele Dyantyi says the fight against gender-based violence and illegal firearms remains a priority.

# Rugby: Former Irish flyhalf Ronan O’Gara will stay on as coach of French outfit La Rochelle until 2031. His current contract expires at the end of this season. The 49-year-old had previously been linked to a move to international rugby, but says he and his family are very happy to continue their adventure in France. He joined La Rochelle in 2019 and has since taken the team to two Champions Cup titles and two Top 14 finals. The team is currently third on the Top 14 log.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-24-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-75-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-569-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-295-dollars-60-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 108-dollars-81-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….