News 12:00

BULLETIN 1 February 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA in Gauteng is concerned by hijackers seizing 118-million-rand state social housing project 
# A community protest disrupts services at Eastern Cape healthcare facilities
# And Olympics: Only 300-thousand spectators may attend the opening ceremony along the Seine

# The DA in Gauteng says the Social Housing Regulatory Authority has allowed hijackers to invade and take over the much-needed 118-million-rand development in Springs, Ekurhuleni, leaving residents struggling to find affordable rental housing. The Sondela development, which consists of more than 400 units, is deteriorating after having been taken over by illegal landlords. The DA’s Mervyn Cirota says many of the units are controlled by criminal syndicates who take control of vacant units, place tenants in them, and recover rental payments:

# The Eastern Cape Health Department says six healthcare facilities are currently operating with skeleton staff. This is because some healthcare workers cannot get to work due to a community protest that blocked roads in Mbizana since Tuesday. The affected facilities are Meje Community Health Centre, Daliwonga Clinic, Mpetsheni Clinic, Mandengane Clinic, Khanyayo Clinic and Baleni Clinic. Spokesperson Mkhululi Ndamase says community members in need of medical attention and ambulances also cannot get to the healthcare facilities:

# Constitutional law scholar, Pierre de Vos, says it is clear that Stellenbosch University has not managed to root out the toxic and exclusionary culture in some residences, with some white residents and alumni actively resisting efforts to do so. Drawings depicting what appeared to be sexual assault, black hoods and a toxic mixture of linseed oil and aloe crystals were discovered in two rooms at the university’s oldest men’s residence, Wilgenhof.  De Vos says decisive and radical steps are needed to root out this toxic culture that lingers on.

# Olympics: The French government has announced a limitation on spectators at the opening ceremony of the Paris Games, citing security and other organisational challenges. No more than 300-thousand people will be allowed on the banks of the Seine when the ceremony takes place on boats on the famous river on the 26th of July. Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin says 100-thousand tickets have already been sold for the best vantage points, while another 200-thousand spectators will be given free access to the upper banks.

# And finally: A Range Rover once belonging to the late Queen Elizabeth is up for grabs. The dark blue vehicle with ivory leather interior was made specifically for royal use. It is also equipped with a modification to make the vehicle more easily accessible. It was sold in 2017, and the new owner has now put it in the market for 5.3-million-rand – with the same registration number that the queen used. Salesman Jack Morgan-Jones told Sky News anyone can buy a new Ferrari, but not everyone can buy the queen’s car.

Stay tuned for more news………….