News 15:00

BULLETIN 13 February 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Gwede Mantashe highlights post-apartheid efforts since 1994
# A former teacher is granted bail for sexual grooming at a Pretoria girls’ school
# And Olympics: Experts warn the age-old balconies in Paris shouldn’t be overcrowded during the Games 

# During the state of the nation address debate, the minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe took aim at critics of the government’s efforts to address apartheid’s legacy in the mining sector. He reminded detractors of the deep-rooted challenges inherited from apartheid, quoting Hendrik Verwoerd’s vision for an enduring system, highlighting 342-years of colonisation and 46-years of apartheid rule. Mantashe affirmed the government’s commitment to transformation, focusing on ownership, management, and procurement since the dawn of democracy in 1994:

Meanwhile, the DA has criticised the ANC’s governance, citing the broken promises that have adversely affected citizens like Tintswalo. The party urged unity, stating that Tintswalo, Fatima, Johan, and Sipho would vote for the DA in the upcoming election to rescue the South African dream. During the state of the nation address debate, party leader John Steenhuisen cautioned against the potential return of the ANC, framing this year’s election as a choice between safeguarding dreams or risking further disappointment:

# A 34-year-old former teacher of the St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls in Pretoria was granted ten-thousand-rand bail in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court when he appeared on charges of rape, sexual assault, and sexual grooming. The National Prosecuting Authority’s Gauteng spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, says it’s alleged the teacher abused a grade 5 learner during swimming lessons and extra classes between 2017 and ’18. Mahanjana says the case was postponed to the 27h of next month for further investigations:

# Olympics: Experts in Paris have warned about the danger of centuries-old balconies being over-populated during this year’s Games in the French Capital – especially during the opening ceremony taking place on boats on the famous River Seine. The National Real Estate Federation warned the authorities balconies designed for just a few people would not take the weight if it was over-crowded. eNCA reports advance warnings about security and transport restrictions have caused many Parisians to plan leave during the Games and rent their homes out to foreign visitors.

# And finally: Autism South Africa is organising its annual art auction, providing a platform for neurodivergent artists to showcase their works and earn an income. The event will take place at Nokuthula Special Needs School in Johannesburg next week. The auction seeks to support autistic artists and raises awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder, which affects one in 68 children. The artworks include pieces by South African artists such as Lynda Ballen and Alice van Jaarsveld, as well as the renowned UK autistic artist Stephen Wiltshire.

Stay tuned for more news………….