Transcript

Hello everyone, welcome to “Just a Moment News.” I’m your host, Erika, and today’s date is September 17, 2024. Let’s dive into some of today’s intriguing news stories.

Starting off, we have a situation in eThekwini where the metro initiated a project worth five hundred million Rand to roll out smart electricity meters. However, these meters, provided by Africa Utility Solutions, failed to connect to the metro’s billing system during pilot tests. There were several irregularities found in the awarding process, including technical specifications not being met and late submissions of required certificates. Additionally, there are allegations of corruption and fraud involving collusion between AUS and municipal officials. The City Integrity and Investigations Unit is currently investigating these contracts.

Moving to Cape Town, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has confirmed plans to install a temporary roof at the DHL Cape Town Stadium, budgeted at thirty million Rand. This installation aims to host South African UFC champion Dricus du Plessis’s next fight, requiring an indoor venue. The city is competing with Johannesburg and Pretoria for the event, with UFC President Dana White looking to expand into Africa. The roof designs are flexible and removable, suitable for future events as well.

In the Western Cape, Premier Alan Winde has expressed concerns over the financial pressures mounting as the population grows while the budget shrinks. Predicted budget cuts could reach up to seven billion Rand over the next three years. The Western Cape Education Department is facing a significant shortfall, planning to cut two thousand four hundred teaching positions by 2025. Health services and other public services are also feeling the strain from the population increase and budget limitations.

In tech news, Apple has released iOS 18, bringing a variety of new features aimed at enhancing user customization and control. This update includes options to bold and italicize text in messages, adjust app icon aesthetics, and more. Although some features like dual app view are still missing, the update adds significant refinements to the iPhone experience.

Shifting focus to security, the Secret Service is under renewed scrutiny following an incident at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. A gunman was detained near the course, raising concerns about the agency’s preparedness and prompting calls for increased resources to handle complex threats and protect high-profile individuals.

In the world of cryptocurrency, a 2015 Bitcoin 66-bit puzzle was solved, but the solver faced a setback as automated bots intercepted the transaction to claim the prize of 6.6 Bitcoin. This incident highlights security vulnerabilities and the capabilities of automated systems in the cryptocurrency space.

Lastly, in the realm of astronomy, new research suggests an alternative “top-down” mechanism for planet formation called gravitational instability. This discovery challenges the traditional “bottom-up” process and could explain the formation of large, distant planets not accounted for by core accretion alone.

That wraps up our news for today. I’m Erika, and you’ve been listening to “Just a Moment News.” Thank you for tuning in, and we hope to have you back for our next update. Stay informed and take care!

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