Breakfast Edition: 9 October 2015

ESKOM SAYS POWER GRID IS VULNERABLE: After 61 days of no load shedding the message this Friday morning is that the system is under severe pressure. Eskom spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe says they have four big units currently offline. This after the power giant earlier this week anticipated no power cuts while maintenance continued. 

"The maintenance of our power generating units is able to continue without the need to implement load shedding as the power system is currently stable," Eskom said. "We operate a very constrained power system that becomes more vulnerable when we experience unplanned events like breakages or sudden increases in demand." Eskom urged consumers to help them "to manage" by reducing consumption throughout the day.

PAROLE BOARD DISCUSS OSCAR PISTORIUS' POSSIBLE RELEASE: The Parole Board will meet today to consider the release of Oscar Pistorius. His release on correctional services has been dumped in drama - with the case dragging on since the first date of the 21st of August. Since then, it's been a tug of war, with the Parole Review Board referring it back a week ago. Correctional Services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela says the meeting will take at the Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria, where Pistorius first walked just under a year ago.

ANC NATIONAL GENERAL COUNCIL MEETS: Meanwhile, issues like the electricity grid could be part of the discussions, when the ANC's National General Council meets in Midrand this weekend. More than 4,000 delegates from across the country are on their way for the meeting that kicks off this morning and takes place every 5 years. Maryke Vermaak reports on the topics for the NGC.

ZUMA WANTS TO MOVE THE COUNTRY FORWARD: Last night, President Jacob Zuma told a Progressive Business Forum gala that the ruling party will discuss ways over the next three days of how the country can move forward.

DA MP FACES DISCIPLINARY HEARING: Politics is expected to be just as hot in the opposition DA as MP Dianne Kohler Barnard is expected to face an internal disciplinary hearing today - with charges including bringing the party into disrepute and breaking its social media rules.  The long serving shadow minister for police was last week demoted to deputy shadow minister of public works after she had shared a Facebook post that praised PW Botha. DA spokesperson James Selfe says Kohler Barnard will appear before a panel of three members of the party's federal legal commission.

INSANE TRAFFIC IN CHINA: And if you think this Friday morning traffic is a headache, you can be glad you're not stuck in morning traffic in China. Drone footage of an insane traffic jam in China has gone viral. Check out the video on the Breakfast Edition - and feel better about being 30 mins late, this morning.

FINANCIAL INDICATORS:

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