News 16:00

BULLETIN 19 February 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The shooting at Primrose Primary School was planned on a WhatsApp group
# Amplats announces the potential retrenchment of employees
# And Tennis: The Delray Beach Open final is postponed to today due to rain

# Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has confirmed last week’s shooting incident at Primrose Primary School was premeditated via a WhatsApp group. He disclosed the grade 6 learner planned to target the principal, deputy principal, and class teacher. The learner faces attempted murder charges and is due in court today. Chiloane urges parents to vigilantly prevent their children from bringing dangerous weapons to schools:

# Anglo American Platinum has revealed plans to retrench three-thousand-700 employees across its platinum metals mining business, affecting over 600 contracted firms. The decision follows a 71-percent decrease in profit, from 49.2-billion-rand in 2022 to 13-billion-rand last year. This was attributed to a 35-percent drop in the platinum group metals dollar basket price during the 2023 financial year. CEO Craig Miller emphasises the need for measures to enhance resilience and competitiveness. The company is set to commence negotiations on restructuring with employees and trade unions.

# The City of Tshwane says cable theft and vandalism of the metro’s infrastructure have become a liability. Last week Monday, cable theft and vandalism of panels at the Temba Waste Water Treatment Works in Hammanskraal was reported, resulting in an estimated cost of 250-thousand-rand in damages. Subsequently, on Wednesday, another incident was reported. Mayor, Cilliers Brink, says cable theft and vandalism are a major financial burden on the metro’s already stretched budget:

# Tennis: The final of the Delray Beach Open in Florida will only be played today after it rained out yesterday. Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul will take on each other for the title. Top-seeded Fritz, the defending champion, defeated unseeded Rinky Hikiata of Australia in the semifinal, while third-seeded Paul eliminated compatriot Frances Tiafoe. The doubles final will also take place today, with Britain’s Neal Skupski and Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico taking on Julian Cash of Britain and Robert Galloway of America.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-94-cents and the euro at 20-rand-41-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 52-thousand-351-dollars-40-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-18-dollars-34-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-24-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The South African Weather Service has issued a warning for extreme fire danger in parts of North West, the Free State, the Northern Cape and the Western Cape. Heatwave conditions with persistently high temperatures above average maximums are forecast throughout the week. These conditions are expected to spread, impacting more areas until Saturday. Very hot to extremely hot conditions are anticipated across the Western Cape and Namakwa District in the Northern Cape. Residents are advised to take the necessary precautions.

Stay tuned for more news………….