News 18:00

BULLETIN 20 February 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC says the uMkhonto we Sizwe party’s registration threatens electoral integrity 
# The Presidential Climate Commission slams the Energy ministry’s power crisis plan 
# And Soccer: Its tight at the top in the Premiership with Man City in the hunt

# The ANC says the uMkhonto we Sizwe party’s registration is unlawful, and it poses a threat to the electoral system. The ruling party is embroiled in a legal dispute with the Independent Electoral Commission. They argue the MK party’s failure to publish its registration correctly last year deprived others of the right to object. News24 reports, the ANC accuses the MK party of supplementing a rejected application, alleging trademark infringement and asset theft. The case is set for the Electoral Court in Bloemfontein on the 19th of next month.

# The Presidential Climate Commission says the Energy ministry’s strategy to address the power supply crisis falls short. It says the integrated resource plan, currently open for public comments, lacks effectiveness in addressing climate change and air quality concerns. BusinessTech reports Mineral Resources and Energy minister Gwede Mantashe’s advocacy for coal clashes with the commission’s push for a green transition. The commission says amid frequent power failures, the plan’s inadequacy exacerbates economic woes and environmental concerns. It calls for urgent action to address energy security, climate change, and air quality issues.

# ActionSA in the Western Cape says premier Alan Winde’s state of the province address lacks clear plans to address declining governance, service delivery, and inequality. They propose tough measures against crime, social support for addicts, increased healthcare investment, and a new approach to housing provision. ActionSA’s Michelle Wasserman says urgent interventions are needed to address collapsing municipalities and the threat of criminality. She calls for a province where criminals do not dictate terms, and the government serves the needs of all residents:

# The organisation, South African Canegrowers calls on National Treasury to reconsider the health promotion levy increase as Finance minister Enoch Godongwana is set to present his budget speech tomorrow. The sugar industry, already grappling with challenges like load-shedding and high input costs, warns the levy hike could cost thousands of jobs and jeopardise small-scale growers’ businesses. The organisation urges Treasury to prioritise measures aiding economic recovery, and job retention, and to consider the impact on livelihoods, as many depend on the sector for employment in a tough economic climate.

# Soccer: It is a tight race at the top of the English Premier League, with Liverpool leading Arsenal by two points, followed closely by defending champions, Manchester City. City has a game in hand and will be in action against Brentford tonight. Victory will move them past Arsenal to within a point of Liverpool. City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, says it is still a long season ahead:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-89-cents and the euro at 20-rand-46-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-92-cents and Bitcoin trades at 52-thousand-338-dollars-58-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-27-dollars-88-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-28-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….