News 07:00

BULLETIN 15 February 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# COSATU demands a bold budget for 2025/26
# AfriForum wants action against municipalities failing to meet their water and sanitation obligations
# And soccer: Arteta is looking forward to the challenge as Arsenal struggle with forward players

# COSATU has urged government to deliver a bold 2025/26 Budget to address South Africa’s socio-economic crises. The federation’s Matthew Parks calls for robust support for Eskom, Transnet, and public infrastructure to drive growth and slash unemployment. COSATU opposes VAT or income tax hikes on low-income earners, warning such measures would worsen poverty. He advocates for boosting SARS funding to combat tax evasion and raise revenue:

# AfriForum says effective consequence management is crucial to addressing the water and sanitation crisis. This follows findings from the South African Human Rights Commission, revealing severe service delivery failures in municipalities. The organisation calls for accountability, especially as court orders to fix sewage dumping issues remain unaddressed. AfriForum’s Marais de Vaal urged the government to enforce municipal compliance with legal obligations to prevent further environmental damage:

# The alleged arsonist accused of starting the deadly Usindiso Building fire in Johannesburg, Lawrance Mdlalose, is set to return to the High Court in Johannesburg on 21 February for pre-trial proceedings. Mdlalose allegedly started the blaze that killed 76 people and injured 12 others on 31 August 2023. National Prosecuting Authority Regional Spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane says investigations revealed that the fire started after a violent altercation over a drug dispute.

# Soccer: Coach Mikel Arteta says he is looking forward to the challenge of coping without Kai Havertz as he grapples with a deepening striker crisis at Premier League title-chasing Arsenal. The German forward will miss the rest of the season after being told he needs surgery to repair a hamstring injury. Second-placed Gunners, who are seven points behind Liverpool, are now down to the bare bones in forward areas. They only have Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri as recognised forward players ahead of today’s match against struggling Leicester. Kick-off is at 2.30 SA time.

# And a woman in Japan has been arrested for allegedly squashing a bun at a convenience store and leaving without buying the packet of bread. Authorities in the southern city of Fukuoka confirmed to the BBC that the 40-year-old had been arrested on Monday for “criminal damage”. The woman, who said she was unemployed, claimed she was only checking the firmness of the bun by pressing it lightly with her hand. While the bag’s wrapper was intact, police said one of the buns was damaged and the entire bag could not be sold.

Stay tuned for more news………….