News 08:00

BULLETIN 15 February 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Popcru blasts Treasury for its failure to support Correctional Services financially
# ActionSA slams the ANC’s handling of the drug crisis
# And rugby: Louw returns from injury to strengthen the Lions’ midfield against the Stormers

# The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union says the National Treasury’s failure to reimburse the Department of Correctional Services for outstanding cost-of-living adjustment funds has left it in financial distress. The union warns that ongoing budget cuts exceeding 12-billion-rand over five-years are crippling rehabilitation programmes, worsening overcrowding, and putting correctional officials at risk. Popcru’s Richard Mamabolo demands urgent funding to ensure the safety of staff and inmates while maintaining effective correctional services:

# ActionSA has condemned the ANC-led government’s failure to tackle South Africa’s escalating drug crisis. ActionSA’s Dereleen James criticised the ANC’s dismissive remarks toward the Central Drug Authority’s plea for support, calling it a blatant failure of leadership. James outlined solutions, including deploying the military to gang hotspots, decriminalising drug use and mandating rehabilitation. She calls for communities plagued by addiction and crime to receive support:

# Eskom says the power system continues to be stable with load-shedding remaining suspended. Eskom spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena says the system also has sufficient emergency reserves. She says from 1 April last year to 14 February, load-shedding was suspended for 317 days, compared to 32 days in the same period last year. She adds that electricity supply was available 99-percent of the time, compared to just 10-percent last year:

# Rugby: Centre Marius Louw returns from injury for the Lions in today’s United Rugby Championship match against the Stormers in Johannesburg. He will partner Henco van Wyk in the midfield. Gianni Lombard plays flyhalf in place of Sam Francis, who missed a few kicks in the recent match against the Bulls. The only other change to the starting team is at lock, where Darrien Landsberg replaces Ruan Delport. The Lions are currently 13th on the log and the Stormers tenth. Kick-off at Ellis Park is at 2.30.

# And president Volodymyr Zelensky said during a meeting with US vice-president JD Vance at the annual Munich Security Conference in Germany more work is needed on a plan to end the war in Ukraine. Earlier Zelensky said he doesn’t see a “ready US plan” to end the war.  Despite a suggestion by president Donald Trump that such negotiations between the US, Russia and Ukraine could take place in Munich today, Russia is not present at the summit and wasn’t invited to the meeting. It’s almost three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Stay tuned for more news………….