News 18:00

BULLETIN 19 February 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Bail is granted to four men accused of inciting violence in Groblersdal
# The EFF says Panyaza Lesufi’s commitments remain unfulfilled 
# And Cricket: Former England captains lash out at the team’s approach after India’s thrashing

# Four men were granted bail of five-thousand-rand each after their appearance on charges of inciting public violence in Groblersdal in Limpopo. Devon Hofmeyr, Willem Petzer, Francois van der Merwe and Tewie Wessels were charged after scuffles broke out outside the local Magistrate’s Court where security company owner Piet Groenewald and his stepson, Stephan Greeff, appeared for allegedly assaulting their employee, Veneruru Kavari, and setting a dog on him. Magistrate Agmat Mphago said this morning everyone was equal before the law and must be regarded innocent until proven guilty.

# The Economic Freedom Fighters in Gauteng says premier Panyaza Lesufi has failed to fulfil promises made to the residents of the province. According to the party, Lesufi’s commitments, including accelerating economic recovery, combating crime, improving living conditions, and reducing unemployment, remain unfulfilled. They also demand a comprehensive update on last year’s promises, particularly the high unemployment rate and rising crime levels. The EFF’s Nkululeko Dunga invites residents to their manifesto launch on the 2nd of March at Dobsonville stadium in Soweto:

# Metalworkers’ union NUMSA has urged commuters in Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga to boycott bus company Putco due to the alleged mistreatment of approximately 120 suspended workers. National spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola accuses Putco’s management of attempting to dismiss workers by withholding a promised six-percent wage increase and bonuses. She emphasises the violation of workers’ rights to a fair disciplinary process and calls for support in addressing this issue:

# Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s widow accuses president Vladimir Putin of killing him with the nerve agent novichok. He died in prison last week. Yulia Navalnaya also says authorities are hiding her husband’s body to wait for traces of the poison to disappear. She vowed to continue her husband’s work. Meanwhile, German’s Foreign ministery has summoned Moscow’s ambassador in Berlin for a meeting over Navalny’s death, demanding the release of everyone arrested for laying flowers in his honour.

# Cricket: Former England captains have lashed out at the current Test team’s so-called Bazbal approach after yesterday’s thrashing by India in the third Test in Rajkot. The hosts beat the visitors by 434 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. This led to questions about England’s insistence on attack, sometimes recklessly so, named after its coach, Brendon McCullum – nick-named Baz. Former captains Michael Vaughan, Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton warn current captain Ben Stokes that a team is judged on series victories.  

Stay tuned for more news………….