News 07:00

BULLETIN 22 February 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# RISE Mzansi calls for stronger action on crime
# Ireland’s Sinn Fein skips its traditional visit to the White House in protest at Trump’s Gaza proposals
# And cricket, the Proteas snatch a dominant win over Afghanistan

# RISE Mzansi has acknowledged a decline in violent crime but remains concerned about persistently high rates. Between October and December 2024, South Africa recorded six-thousand-953 murders and 11-thousand-803 rapes averaging 76 murders and 129 rapes daily. The party’s Makashule Gana is calling for the tripling of rape convictions, and addressing social contributors to crime:

General industries union Giwusa also commented on the crime statistics and calls for stronger community policing and urgent economic reforms to tackle the high levels of crime and violence. The union welcomes the decline in some crime statistics between October and December last year but argues that crime levels remain high, attributing it to inequality, poverty, and unemployment. Giwusa’s Mametlwe Sebei calls for increased community-led safety initiatives, urging workers and residents to take control of their security:

# Two South African nationals have been arrested at OR Tambo International Airport for drug trafficking, with police seizing cocaine worth 7.5-million-rand. SAPS spokesperson Amanda van Wyk confirmed the suspects, a male and a female, arrived separately from Brazil. She confirmed that both have been charged with drug trafficking:

# Ireland’s largest opposition party Sinn Fein says it will skip a traditional St Patrick’s Day visit to the White House in protest at US President Trump’s proposals for Gaza. Leader Mary Lou McDonald said in Dublin that she could not visit Washington while there was a threat of mass expulsion hanging over the Palestinian people. Trump triggered global outrage when he proposed that the US would take over control of the Gaza Strip and permanently move its Palestinian inhabitants elsewhere.

# And, cricket: South Africa’s six-match ODI losing streak came to a spectacular end when they crushed Afghanistan by 107 runs in their Champions Trophy clash at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday. The Proteas won the toss and decided to bat first, with Ryan Rickleton adding a century and half centuries from Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen. They put together 315 for six before bundling out Afghanistan for 208 in 43 overs and two balls. Rahmat Shah hit 90 for Afghanistan, while Kagiso Rabada took three wickets.

Stay tuned for more news………….