News 13:00

BULLETIN 17 February 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Broke SANDF can reportedly not host Armed Forces Day
# Russian police crack down on protestors after Navalny’s death

# And, boxing: Sivenathi Nontshinga celebrated for becoming two-time world light flyweight champion

# Despite the pomp and ceremony of the State of the Nation Address, reports say the National Defence Force is so broke, it won’t be able to commemorate Armed Forces Day on 21 February. The annual event marks South Africa’s greatest wartime maritime disaster – the sinking of the troopship SS Mendi in the English Channel in 1917. More than 600 South African, mostly black, soldiers died. News24 reports SANDF spokesperson Simphiwe Dlamini has confirmed the cancellation of the event.

# The Azanian People’s Organisation is calling for a clear audit and disclosure of South African individuals and entities with commercial or business interests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is to determine what influence they may have on South Africa’s involvement in the war in that country. AZAPO’s spokesperson, Jabu Rakwena, says the party wants government to capacitate the ground forces in the DRC and provide superior military intelligence and weaponry, failing which our soldiers should be recalled:

# Police in Russia have cracked down on people who gathered to mark the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Human rights group claim at least 100 people have been arrested. In Moscow and St Petersburg, officers ripped away placards from protesters and dragged others away from makeshift memorials to Navalny. The chief critic of president Vladimir Putin, who had campaigned against official corruption and led major anti-Kremlin protests, was confirmed dead by prison authorities yesterday.

# Boxing: Sports, Arts and Culture minister Zizi Kodwa has congratulated champion boxer Sivenathi ‘Special One’ Nontshinga for regaining the International Boxing Federation World Light Flyweight title this morning. Nontshinga defeated Mexican Adrian Curiel in Mexico City to become a two-time world champion. The department’s spokesperson, Litha Mpondwana, says Nontshinga is an excellent fighter and a model professional who exemplifies the best of South African boxing:

# And, cricket: The Proteas women lost the one-off Test against Australia at the WACA in Perth by an innings and 284 runs on the third day. The South Africans were skittled out for just 76 runs on the opening day, and the hosts declared their first innings on 575 for nine. South Africa resumed on 67 for three today and hung on bravely for a while, before they were dismissed for 215. Tazmin Brits and Delmi Tucker grafted hard for their 96-run fourth-wicket partnership before Brits was out for 31.

Stay tuned for more news………….