News 06:00

BULLETIN 28 February 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Voters are warned against poll misinformation ahead of the elections
# The French president says sending troops to help Ukraine cannot be ruled out
# And rugby, Springbok fans can start buying tickets for a number of home Tests on Monday

# REAL411 has warned against poll misinformation ahead of the elections, stressing the risks of disinformation to democracy. The organisation advises citizens to scrutinize news sources for credibility. Partnering with major platforms like Google and TikTok, the Electoral Commission also aims to combat misinformation and reiterates its commitment to democratic processes. Real411 says more proactive measures can be implemented against disinformation, and encourages parties not to misinform during their campaigns.

# The DA says South Africa is facing a crisis of electricity infrastructure theft, resulting in intensified load-shedding. According to the Department of Public Enterprises’ written response to the party’s parliamentary question, over 44-thousand cases of theft and vandalism were reported between 2018 and last year, averaging 24 incidents daily. Transformers alone suffered 232 thefts, amounting to an 18-million-rand loss. The DA’s Mimmy Gondwe says despite Police minister Bheki Cele’s task teams, the government appears to be losing the battle against electricity infrastructure criminals, fuelling a lucrative black market:

# The Socio-Economic Rights Institute is calling for new strategies to revive inner cities. It does not believe that pushing the poor out of dilapidated buildings is the solution to fixing infrastructure. The institute’s Nomzamo Zondo says cities should strive to work collaboratively with civil society to help build cleaner, safer, and shinier inner cities:

# University of Pretoria employees affiliated with the National Education, Health, and Allied Workers Union have vowed to continue protesting over salary increases. The union is demanding an above-inflation increase of seven-percent while the university is offering four-percent. The institution has obtained a court interdict preventing the striking workers from participating in violent conduct including blocking students from attending class, and damaging property. Nehawu has denied claims of disruption and vandalism made by the university, saying many students are in solidarity with the striking workers.

# French President Emmanuel Macron says sending European troops to Ukraine to help the country win the war against Russia cannot be ruled out. Kiev has pleaded for a step-up in Western support, especially with weapons, to help stem an increasing barrage of Russian attacks, that have seen Moscow gain territory in the country’s east after months of stalemate. Macron says Russia’s defeat is essential for peace and security in Europe. He adds that a new coalition would be created to supply Ukraine with medium-range and long-range missiles.

# Rugby: Tickets for the Springboks’ home Tests against Ireland, Portugal, and Argentina will go on sale from Monday. The reigning world champions take on Ireland at Loftus Versfeld on the sixth of July, and in Durban a week later before playing Portugal in Bloemfontein on 20 July. Prices start at 350-rand. Ticket prices for the Argentina match in Mbombela on 28 September will start at 150-rand. Details of the two Tests against the All Blacks at Ellis Park and in Cape Town must still be confirmed.  

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-8-cents and the euro at 20-rand-70-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-20-cents and Bitcoin trades at 57-thousand-and-6-dollars-6-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-31-dollars-93-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-31-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….