News 08:00

BULLETIN 29 February 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA says children continue to learn in inadequate and unsafe spaces
# The US Supreme Court agrees to hear Donald Trump’s immunity claim in his election subversion case
# And motorsport, Red Bull’s team principal is cleared of inappropriate behaviour

# The DA says that 30 years into democracy, South African children continue to learn in inadequate and unsafe spaces. This comes after 18 learners were injured when the ceiling of the Umthambeka Primary School in Thembisa, Gauteng, collapsed on them on Tuesday. The DA’s, Baxolile Nodada, says the Department of Basic Education is set to miss its target to eliminate critical infrastructure backlogs by 2030, as it continues to fall short of the 20-billion-rand year-on-year spending required:

# The Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill is awaiting president Cyril Ramaphosa’s ratification. The bill was passed by the National Council of Provinces with strong support of 40 votes in favour and only three against. It addresses uncertainties arising from the decriminalisation of dagga six years ago. The legislation seeks to provide clarity on the legal usage, cultivation, and transportation of the plant. Ramaphosa’s potential signature could bring about significant changes, introducing clearer definitions and regulations to an industry that has faced ambiguity since the 2018 Constitutional Court ruling.

# The GOOD Party in the Western Cape has welcomed the removal of Drakenstein mayor, Conrad Poole, following a motion of no-confidence vote against him. The DA mayor has been involved in an alleged pay-for-jobs scandal, where members of his executive have been paying him monthly kickbacks. The GOOD Party’s, Keagen Gertse, says the motion to remove Poole was necessary because the DA’s leadership failed to act:

# The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear former president Donald Trump’s immunity case over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. He approached the Supreme Court after a three-judge panel on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, rejected his claim of sweeping immunity. Trump had claimed that he was immune from all criminal charges for acts he said fell within his duties as president. The Supreme Court will hear arguments during the week of April 22nd.

# Motorsport: Red Bull’s team principal Christian Horner has been cleared following allegations of inappropriate behaviour made against him. The 50-year-old was under investigation after allegations were made by a female colleague, which he denied. Red Bull says it is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous, and impartial. It adds that the complainant has a right of appeal. The season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix is this weekend.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-23-cents and the euro at 20-rand-85-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-37-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-337-dollars-6-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-35-dollars-49-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-1-cent a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….