News 18:00

BULLETIN 2 February 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The GOOD Party suspends Peter de Villiers following a sexual misconduct allegation 
# Government misses the deadline to exempt key areas from load-shedding 
# And rugby: France and Ireland kick off this year’s Six Nations in Marseille

# The GOOD Party has suspended Peter de Villiers from all party activities following a sexual misconduct complaint from a member.  Disciplinary procedures will get underway in order to ascertain if constitutional breaches occurred. The party’s Janke Tolmay says the suspension of the former Springbok head coach does not imply guilt, but underscores the gravity of the accusations:

# Government has missed its January 31 deadline regarding load-shedding in key areas. The Gauteng High Court previously ruled that load-shedding has infringed on several rights entrenched in the Constitution. The court order stated that police stations, schools, clinics, and hospitals should be load-shedding-free by the end of January. Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa disclosed the government’s contemplation to seek a legal interpretation of the order. Advocate Siphile Buthelezi told SABC News that no appeal has been lodged on the state’s behalf:

# The Overstrand Municipality has confirmed that its firefighting teams remain on the ground in the Pringle Bay area. This is amid fears of possible flare-ups following a fire that threatened both Pringle Bay and Betty’s Bay over the past three days. According to municipal manager Dean O’Neill, there are currently no active firefighting efforts after the blaze was successfully contained earlier:

Meanwhile, wine producers have expressed deep concern over the potential impact of these ongoing fires on the harvest season and despite recent evacuation orders being lifted, fears persist among farmers about the devastating effects fires could have on the region’s vital wine industry. The South African wine exports have fallen by 17-percent, to just over 300-million litres in 2023, and there are fears that the fires will add to the existing logistical challenges at ports. The Cape Winelands and Overstrand municipal areas have been the hardest hit areas.

# Rugby: This year’s Six Nations kicks off in Marseille tonight when the series’ two power houses, France and Ireland, will do battle at the Orange Vélodrome. Ireland unseated France as champion last year, and the two teams emerged as the teams to beat in the World Cup. That didn’t pan out as planned, and tonight’s encounter is the first for both teams after their painful early exits. Tomorrow, Italy will meet England in Rome, and Wales and Scotland will meet in Cardiff.

Stay tuned for more news………….