News 18:00

BULLETIN 13 October 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A Solidarity report reveals an alarming 390-percent growth in online gambling in South Africa
# Eskom seeks a strategic partner for the Tubatse pumped storage project
# And, rugby: Jake White becomes Fiji’s new head coach

# Solidarity’s Helping Hand says online gambling in South Africa grew by 390-percent between 2021 and last year, putting increasing financial pressure on households. Its latest report indicates nearly three-quarters of the 1.5-trillion-rand wagered in the gambling industry in 2024/2025 was online, with operators retaining 75-billion-rand after payouts. Solidarity’s Phillip Bruwer calls for stricter controls on gambling adverts, better protection for vulnerable people and stronger action against illegal online gambling:

# Eskom is looking for a strategic partner to help develop a 1.5-gigawatt pumped storage scheme near Roossenekal in Limpopo. The Tubatse project is expected to become South Africa’s largest pumped storage facility, with the capacity to store 21 gigawatt-hours of electricity and generate power for up to 14 hours. Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena says the project will help improve electricity supply and allow more wind and solar power to be used. Mokwena adds interested companies have until 30 November to submit their applications.

# The Gauteng Department of Health says ambulances parked at emergency medical services bases are not necessarily idle or out of service. According to the department, one base has 33 vehicles, including 22 emergency ambulances, five intensive care ambulances and six scheduled patient transport vehicles. The department’s Steve Mabona says the ambulances are also rotated for maintenance, while some are used to support clinics and patients at health facilities:

# Ethiopia has opened its first gold refinery, in a 800-million-rand joint venture aimed at boosting exports and keeping more of the value from its gold at home. The facility, in the capital Addis Ababa, is a partnership between state-owned Ethiopian Investment Holdings and international company Sam Precious Metals. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says the refinery can process more than 600 tonnes of precious metals a year and it is hoped that it would stimulate job-creation and support economic growth. Ethiopia earned about 90-billion-rand from gold exports last year.

# Rugby: Former Springbok and Bulls coach Jake White had been confirmed as Fiji’s head coach to take the Pacific island team to next year’s World Cup in Australia. The 62-year-old, who lead the Boks to World Cup glory in 2007, also had coaching stints with teams such as the Brumbies, the Sharks and Montpellier. The chairperson of Fiji’s governing body, John Sanday, says White understands what it takes to build a World Cup-winning team and his experience, leadership and championship mentality are exactly what they are looking for.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-51-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-48-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-86-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-438-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-169-dollars-20-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 108-dollars-12-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….