News 14:00

BULLETIN 17 February 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The EFF calls on police to ensure justice after the murder of Imam Muhsin Hendricks
# An education activist calls on NSFAS to implement stricter financial controls following the recovery of two-billion-rand
# And rugby: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu says the Stormers still believe they will reach the URC play-offs

#  The EFF is calling on minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, to prioritise Imam Muhsin Hendricks’ murder case and for justice to be served. The 58-year-old was shot and killed when two unknown suspects fired multiple shots at his vehicle in Bethelsdorp, Gqeberha, over the weekend. The EFF wants to know how much longer sexual minorities and communities have to face such reckless hate, discrimination and death before these cases are prioritised. The party asks for the condemnation of such evil acts.

# Education activist Hendrick Makaneta has congratulated the Special Investigating Unit on its successful recovery of two-billion-rand on behalf of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. This achievement marks a crucial step in ensuring accountability and financial integrity in South Africa’s higher education sector. Makaneta is calling on the scheme and the Department of Higher Education to implement stricter financial controls to prevent irregular payments in the future:

# The US embassy in Pretoria has confirmed that it will forward a petition from a group of Afrikaners to US president Donald Trump. Approximately one-thousand people gathered outside the embassy on Saturday, calling for US intervention in South Africa’s Expropriation Act. The government insists on no land grabs, and no group is targeted, but activist Willem Petzer claims the law impacts the Afrikaner community:

# Ukrainian drones have struck a key pumping station at a major international pipeline in southern Russia. Kyiv has targeted Russia’s energy infrastructure throughout the three-year conflict, seeking to hit sites it says supply fuel to Moscow’s Army or helps provide funds to support its offensive. In the latest attack, seven explosive-packed drones hit the pumping station of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium which carries Kazakh oil across southern Russia for export via the Black Sea, including to western Europe.

# Rugby: The Stormers’ Springbok flyhalf, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, still believes the team can reach the play-offs of the United Rugby Championship. They are currently in tenth place on the log, with seven rounds remaining, and in touching distance to be among the first eight who will qualify for the next stage. Feinberg-Mngomezulu hopes to be back from injury soon and help the team reach their goal. He says there’s no panic in the squad. The Stormers next play the third-placed Bulls in Pretoria on the first of March.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-43-cents and the euro at 19-rand-32-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-21-cents and Bitcoin trades at 96-thousand-312-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-902-dollars-73-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-85-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….