News 08:00

BULLETIN 7 February 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Mbalula says SONA presented practical plans for implementation
# Steenhuisen says key DA policies were incorporated into the SONA
# And Trump signs an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court

# The ANC has welcomed president Cyril Ramaphosa’s state of the nation address, saying he presented a medium-term development plan for the country. In his speech, the president focused on several issues including the economy, job creation, municipalities, and corruption. ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, says the plan consists of practical things that can be implemented to improve the lives of citizens:

Meanwhile, the DA leader and Agriculture minister, John Steenhuisen, says his party’s policies which promote economic growth and job creation, were front and centre in Ramaphosa’s state of the nation address. The president stated that the government of national unity will launch another phase of reforms to try to lift economic growth above three-percent. Steenhuisen says there now needs to be urgency to implement the policies:

And EFF leader Julius Malema says Ramaphosa recycled past promises and delivered empty rhetoric in his speech at the Cape Town City Hall on Thursday evening. Malema says Ramaphosa has failed to deliver for citizens, proving once again that his leadership is built on deception and political theatrics:

# US president Donald Trump has signed an executive order sanctioning the International Criminal Court, accusing it of illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and Israel. The order places financial sanctions and blocked visas for ICC employees and their families, who assisted in investigations of American citizens or allies. In November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his then-defence minister Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes. The order says the court is a threat to the sovereignty of the US.

# Cricket: Two-time champions the Sunrisers Eastern Cape are through to their third consecutive SA20 final, after beating Paarl Royals by eight wickets at Centurion. The Royals posted 175 for four in their 20 overs. In reply, Tony de Zorzi and Jordan Hermann shared a second-wicket stand of 111, to help the Sunrisers reach the target with the four balls to spare. The defending champions will face MI Cape Town in Saturday’s final at the Wanderers. Sunrisers’ captain, Aiden Markram, was delighted with his team’s win:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-41-cents and the euro at 19-rand-12-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 97-thousand-353-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-867-dollars-75-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-50-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….