News 06:00
BULLETIN 21 February 6 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# President Cyril Ramaphosa sets May 29th as the election date
# The DA blames the ANC for the soaring unemployment in the country
# And, the World Food Programme pauses deliveries to the north of Gaza
# President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that the national and provincial elections will take place on the 29th of May this year. The president says he consulted with the Independent Electoral Commission on the election date. Presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says Ramaphosa also convened a meeting with all nine provincial premiers and the IEC to discuss the state of readiness for the elections:
# The Constitutional Court has unanimously declined to hear former president Jacob Zuma’s appeal regarding the invalidation of his private prosecution against state advocate Billy Downer and News24 journalist Karyn Maughan. Zuma’s appeal, which sought to challenge the Supreme Court of Appeal’s dismissal of his prosecution strategy, was rejected. This decision could significantly impact Zuma’s ongoing attempts to remove Downer as prosecutor in his corruption court case. Despite Zuma’s efforts, Downer persists in pushing for Zuma’s trial to proceed.
# The DA says ANC policies are fuelling soaring unemployment rates, with the national unemployment rate reaching 32.1-percent and escalating to over 41-percent by the expanded definition. The party criticises the ANC for neglecting structural barriers, leaving 69.1-percent of young people unable to contribute to the economy as per the fourth quarter Labour Force Survey. The DA-led Western Cape boasts a lower unemployment rate of 20.3-percent. The DA’s Michael Bagraim proposes reducing regulations, introducing a job seekers grant, and ending race-based employment laws:
# Acting North West premier, Nono Maloyi, says vandalism of state infrastructure is tantamount to treason. He delivered the state of the province address in Mahikeng yesterday. Maloyi says while the Department of Water and Sanitation has been working to improve the provision of water in the province, vandalism remains a huge problem:
# The United Nations World Food Programme has decided to pause deliveries of life-saving food aid to northern Gaza until conditions are in place that allow for safe distributions. The organisation hoped to begin a week-long delivery this past weekend, sending ten trucks each day to help stem the tide of hunger and desperation. However, crews have faced hungry crowds attempting to climb on the trucks and gunfire. The UN organisation says it hopes to resume deliveries responsibly as soon as possible.
# Rugby: English rugby won’t move to Wembley, and renovations to Twickenham will start in three years. The Rugby Football Union rejected a proposal for the home of English rugby to be moved to the famous soccer stadium. According to reports, it would cost about 15.8-billion-rand to revamp Twickenham, which was built in 1909, which would be unaffordable. Instead, essential work could be done to the tune of 7.1-billion-rand, which would still require a loan. This would also require the approval of the RFU’s council members.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-92-cents and the euro at 20-rand-46-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 52-thousand-141-dollars-15-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-25-dollars-40-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-53-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….