News 11:00

BULLETIN 22 February 11 am

Good morning I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Agriculture Ministry advocates for more small-scale farmers in the red meat value chain
# The City of Cape Town welcomes the increased crime crackdown in gun and drug arrests
# And, the Six Nations reaches its third round this weekend

# Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen has emphasises the need to integrate small-scale communal farmers into red meat value chains to boost exports. This initiative comes as KwaZulu-Natal faces ongoing Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks, with containment efforts including vaccinations and isolations. Steenhuisen highlights that empowering small-scale farmers is vital for economic growth, especially as disease poses a threat to export markets if not effectively managed:

# Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has applauded the rise in gun and drug arrests under the LEAP programme. Crime statistics for January to March 2024 show firearm arrests increase in Delft at 70-percent, Gugulethu 94-percent, Mitchells Plain 33-percent, and Philippi East at 40-percent. Drug-related arrests also spiked, with Philippi East seeing a 333-percent jump and Gugulethu a 114-percent increase. The mayor says the city will keep increasing policing, while using technology like drones and CCTV. He urge better SAPS resourcing to secure convictions and sustain crime-fighting success.

# KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, urges residents to remain vigilant as the province faces continued flooding risks following heavy rainfall. Seven deaths have been reported this week, with six in eThekwini due to mudslides, while a young learner was swept away by floodwaters in eShoba. The department’s Senzelwe Mzila says disaster management teams have been deployed to affected areas: 

# Pope Francis is not out of danger and will remain in hospital for at least one more week. However, in their first in-person update a week after the pontiff was taken to hospital, doctors have also said he was not at risk of death. The 88-year-old pontiff is being treated for double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis and is receiving occasional supplements of oxygen and strengthened drug therapy for pneumonia. Millions of people around the world have been concerned about the Pope’s increasingly frail health and speculating over a possible resignation.

# And rugby, the Six Nations has reached its third round, and some entertaining encounters await fans. Wales will welcome defending champion and log leader Ireland to Cardiff this afternoon, with kick-off at 4.15. Then England and Scotland will do battle at Twickenham. Tomorrow, Italy and France will face off in Rome from five o’clock. Ireland beat England and Scotland in the first two rounds and stands on ten points, followed by France and England, both on six, Scotland on five, Italy on four and Wales on one.

Stay tuned for more news………….