News 15:00

BULLETIN 22 February 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Defence minister defends SA’s peacekeeping mission in the DRC
# EFF members are removed during the Eastern Cape state of the province address 
# And Motorsport: Carlos Sainz is the third fastest in the final season for Ferrari

# Defence minister Thandi Modise has emphasised that the deployment of the South African Defence Force to the Democratic Republic of Congo is for peacekeeping efforts. This statement comes in response to criticism following the recent deaths of Simon Mkhulu Bobe and Irven Thabang Semono during the mission. The SANDF repatriated and officially handed over the mortal remains to their families yesterday. Modise has advocated for peace talks: 

# A scuffle broke out during Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane’s state of the province address, as security services forcibly removed members of the EFF from the legislature after an argument ensued. The incident occurred amidst the premier’s address, which highlighted various initiatives and challenges in the province, including job creation and economic development.

# Western Cape Agriculture MEC, Ivan Meyer is advocating for the inclusion of veterinary services in the Provincial Powers Bill to bolster animal welfare, public health and biosecurity. Meyer’s call comes after the discovery of 19-thousand cattle in appalling conditions aboard the AI Kuwait vessel in Cape Town harbour destined for Iraq from Brazil. Eight cattle had to be euthanized, and three already died. Meyer believes that the draft Powers Bill was a possible remedy to avoid similar occurrences in the future.

# Motorsport: Dutch driver Max Verstappen continued where he left off last season, with a dominant start to Formula One pre-season testing in Bahrain. Red Bull’s three-time world champion was 1.14 seconds quicker than McLaren’s Lando Norris in second, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz third fastest. It is Sainz’s final season for the Scuderia before being replaced by British driver Lewis Hamilton. The Spaniard says it will be an emotional farewell:

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-96-cents and the euro at 20-rand-57-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-3-cents and Bitcoin trades at 51-thousand-631-dollars-70-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-28-dollars-23-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-2-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Two white Bengal tigers previously housed in a Boksburg suburb have found a new home in an NSPCA-accredited wildlife facility in the Free State. The tigers were first spotted on a property next to a daycare centre in 2021. National Council of SPCAs says the tigers’ release was both magnificent and heartbreaking, with the animals taking excited leaps to freedom while interacting with grass for the first time. 

Stay tuned for more news………….