News 06:00

BULLETIN 7 February 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Six learners have died and 52 were injured in a bus accident in the Free State
# Parliament introduces new rules ahead of the State of the Nation address to maintain order and decorum
# And, the Court rules Donald Trump does not have presidential immunity from prosecution

# Six pupils were killed when the bus they were travelling in overturned on the R70 between Ventersburg and Senekal in the Free State yesterday evening. Premier Mxolisi Dukwana says the accident involved 58 female pupils from Hoërskool Riebeeckstad, who were returning from an all-girls sports event in Moolmanshoek near Rosendal to Riebeeckstad in Welkom. The premier says the deaths of the learners robbed the future of the province.

# Government says it has taken far-reaching actions to rebuild the economy in the wake of state capture, the devastating global Covid-19 pandemic, and a debilitating electricity crisis. The Presidency has released a document titled, Leave No One Behind 2024 – A Five-Year Review, that documents the strides made in South Africa’s recovery and reconstruction since 2019. Government says it has been driving investment, growth, and employment, with over 1.5-trillion-rand in new investment commitments pledged through five SA Investment Conferences. It admits that there is still much work to be done.

# Parliament has introduced new joint rules designed to regulate proceedings during the joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, which prohibit disruptions. This is ahead of the State of the Nation Address tomorrow. The event will be held at the Cape Town City Hall for the third time and 6.5-million-rand has been budgeted for the Sona. National Assembly speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, says the new joint rules are aimed at maintaining order and decorum in the Chamber:

# The City of Tshwane has advanced its energy independence with a request for information targeting independent power producers for alternative energy solutions. The request aims to diversify the energy mix at Pretoria West and Rooiwal power stations to reduce reliance on Eskom. Council approved a 40-year lease for the two power stations, aiming to source one-thousand megawatts from alternative sources within three years to mitigate the impact of load-shedding. The request is available on the city and National Treasury’s websites.

# The US Court of Appeals has ruled that former president Donald Trump is not immune from criminal prosecution in his federal election subversion case. The 77-year-old had argued that he was immune from criminal charges for acts he said fell within his duties as president. However, a three-judge panel found that there was no basis for Trump to assert that former presidents have blanket immunity from prosecution. Trump has been charged with conspiring to overturn president Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election and committing fraud to stay in office.

# Cricket: Defending champions India beat South Africa by two wickets at Willowmoore Park in Benoni, to make their fifth consecutive Under 19 World Cup final. Lhuan-dre Pretorius scored 76 supported by Richard Seletswane with 64 to help the hosts reach 244 for seven. In reply, India got off to a shaky start losing early wickets. Still, captain Uday Saharan and Sachin Dhas put in a partnership of 171, as the visitors clinched the victory with seven balls to spare. India will face either Pakistan or Australia in the final.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-81-cents and the euro at 20-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 43-thousand-120-dollars-13-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-34-dollars-53-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-77-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….