News 16:00

BULLETIN 13 February 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# COSATU condemns attempts to block the reopening of the Lily and Barbrook mines
# Several people are injured after car is driven into a group of people in Munich
# And rugby: The Blitzboks make key squad changes for the Vancouver Sevens

# Union federation Cosatu has condemned efforts to block the reopening of the Lily and Barbrook mines near Barberton in Mpumalanga. Despite secured funding to exit business rescue, the SSC Group seeks their liquidation. Cosatu’s spokesperson, Zanele Sabela, says priority should be on recovering the bodies of three workers buried since a 2016 rockfall, and restoring jobs for the local community:

# The DA in the Western Cape says it is appalled that certain members of the opposition continue to abuse parliamentary practices, disregarding rules in favour of political grandstanding. This comes after ANC leader in the provincial legislature, Khalid Sayed, disrupted proceedings during a recent meeting of the standing committee on Education. The DA’s Gillion Bosman says Sayed issued a media statement inviting members of the public to ask questions about alleged teacher cuts. Bosman says this is despite the meeting agenda clearly being stated:

# A major police operation is underway near the central train station in the German city of Munich after a car was driven into a group of people taking part in a demonstration organised by the union Verdi. Bild newspaper reports 15 people were injured, while police say several have been hurt. The Munich Security Conference is due to start tomorrow, with US vice president JD Vance and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy arriving later today. Police have confirmed the driver was secured and currently poses no further danger.

# Rugby: The Blitzboks have made key changes to their squad ahead of next weekend’s Vancouver Sevens. Sebastiaan Jobb returns to the team after nearly two years, replacing the injured Zain Davids, while Tristan Leyds is back from injury to take over from Dewald Human. The team faces New Zealand, Ireland, and Australia in their pool matches. Coach Philip Snyman says the adjustments suit the fast artificial pitch in Canada, with Jobb’s pace expected to be a major factor:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-48-cents and the euro at 19-rand-23-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-7-cents and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-804-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-918-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-18-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The likes of Mariah Carey, Cyndi Lauper and Manchester bands Oasis and New Order, are among 14 nominees for the prestigious 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Eight of the nominees including Chubby Checker and Billy Idol, are first-timers on the ballot. Performers are eligible for nomination 25 years after the release of their first commercial recording. Nominees are voted on by an international panel of more than one-thousand-200 artists, historians and music industry players. Fans also get to vote for their favourites online.

Stay tuned for more news………….