News 12:00

BULLETIN 21 February 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The UDM says the upcoming election is a moment of reckoning for South Africa
# An institute calls for the amendment of the Animal Health Act 
# And Rugby: The Springbok Women’s Sevens are aiming for a better performance in Vancouver 

# The UDM says the upcoming elections offer South Africans a rare chance to break free from the stranglehold of a ruling elite, that has become disconnected from the very essence of democracy. President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that the general elections will be held on the 29th of May this year. The UDM’s national secretary general, Yongama Zigebe, says the party envisage a future of accountability, transparency, and ethical governance serve as the guiding principles of the country’s trajectory:

# The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute is calling for the Animal Health Act to be amended, to specifically disallow the transit of animals through South Africa in conditions which are harmful to their health. The docking of ship Al Kuwait at the Cape Town Harbour on Sunday caused a foul smell in parts of the city. The ship from Brazil was carrying 19-thousand cattle. The institute’s Braam Hanekom says some of the cows were found dead among the living:

# The University of Pretoria has moved some of the classes conducted at its Hatfield campus online. This is due to the ongoing strike action and illegal obstruction to entrances at the campus. The employees embarked on a strike last week, following a deadlock in negotiations between the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union and the university over wage increases. The university says it remains committed to supporting students during this time, facilitating online registration processes, and accommodating those who may encounter difficulties submitting required documentation.

# Rugby: The Springbok Women’s Sevens team is aiming for a top-eight finish in the World Series to confirm their core status for next season. They managed one win in Dubai in the opening leg of the series, none in Cape Town and two in Perth last month. South Africa is in the same pool as Ireland, New Zealand and Brazil for the Vancouver leg of the series this weekend. Springbok Women’s Sevens player, Marlize de Bruin, says losing to Brazil seven-nil last month was hard to take:

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-89-cents and the euro at 20-rand-41-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-84-cents and Bitcoin trades at 51-thousand-757-dollars-50-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-27-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-96-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The City of Cape Town’s Old Granary building in District Six has been renamed the Desmond and Leah Tutu House, to honour and memorialise the life and work of the late Archbishop and his wife. In 2015, the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation co-funded the refurbishment of the building, to allow the foundation to use the space as a peace centre, archive centre, museum, and office space. Cape Town mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, says the building is a wonderful metaphor for the power of transformation and healing.

Stay tuned for more news………….