News 9:00

BULLETIN 20 April 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa considers Afrikaner candidates for US ambassador role
# Fire at Tembisa Hospital contained with no injuries reported
# And Eskom says spending on fuel for the open-cycle gas turbines fleet will decrease

# President Cyril Ramaphosa is reportedly considering four white Afrikaners as potential replacements for former US ambassador Ebrahim Rasool. According to the Sunday Times, Roelf Meyer, Ramaphosa’s former Convention for a Democratic South Africa partner, has also been shortlisted with Andries Nel, Gerhard Koornhof and Marthinus van Schalkwyk. The report indicates that ANC insiders say appointing a white Afrikaner may counter Trump’s claims of Afrikaner persecution. MTN chairperson, Mcebisi Jonas, remains the president’s choice as special envoy, despite backlash over his past criticism of Donald Trump.

# The Gauteng Health and Wellness Department has confirmed a fire at Tembisa Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit has been contained. Spokesperson Lesiba Malotana says all patients were safely evacuated, with no injuries or fatalities reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The hospital has faced recent scrutiny over safety standards. Malotana reassured the public that patients are safe and receiving the necessary care:

# Eskom says it expects its spending on fuel for the open-cycle gas turbines fleet to decrease as maintenance activities begin to slow down. The power utility has from 1 to 17 April spent approximately 1.67-billion-rand on fuel for the fleet, generating 284.4 gigawatt-hours. Eskom’s spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, says this is higher than the 109.4 gigawatt-hours generated during the same period last year:

# Rugby: The Lions’ United Rugby Championship playoff aspirations suffered a significant blow with a 15-10 home defeat to Benetton. Despite a second-half try from Asenathi Ntlabakanye leveling the score, a late Benetton try by Ignacio Mendy secured the visitors’ victory. This marks the Lions’ third consecutive loss, leaving them 14th in the 16-team standings. Head coach Ivan van Rooyen cited individual errors at crucial moments as detrimental to their performance. He emphasised the need for the team to regroup quickly to keep playoff hopes alive.

# Rugby: The Bulls made history by becoming the first South African team to beat Munster at home in the United Rugby Championship. They also beat all four Irish teams this season. Coach Jake White says it was his team’s desire to win that handed them the 16-13 victory. In the final minutes of the match the Bulls had to defend phase after phase, before finally forcing a Munster handling error. The Bulls, third on the log, face second placed Glasgow Warriors in Scotland on Friday.

# And finally, the International Pentecost Holiness Church is set to host a historic mass wedding today in Heidelberg, Gauteng. Over one-thousand-500 couples will be united in matrimony at The Dome, the largest congregational venue in the Southern Hemisphere. This event marks a significant increase from the 400 couples married in 2023, with many grooms entering polygamous unions, a tradition embraced by the church.

Stay tuned for more news………….