News 07:00

BULLETIN 10 February 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Julius Malema says the EFF’s pressure brought Paul O’Sullivan before the ad hoc committee
# Advocate Kemi Behari told the Madlanga Commission that his salary increase was justified
# And, Ghislaine Maxwell refused to answer Congress’s questions

# EFF leader Julius Malema says private forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan’s appearance before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee today follows his party’s sustained pressure within Parliament and across broader society. The committee is investigating allegations of political interference in the country’s criminal justice sector. O’Sullivan is scheduled to appear in person after his bid to appear virtually was rejected. Malema says O’Sullivan’s appearance comes despite his attempts to create a non-existent security threat:

# Suspended City of Ekurhuleni legal and risk services head, Kemi Behari, has denied allegations that he received a 600-thousand-rand loyalty bonus for protecting suspended acting Metro Police deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi. Testifying before the Madlanga commission, Behari said the claims are false and aimed at damaging his reputation. He added that his salary increase reflected extra responsibilities, rejecting any involvement in covering up misconduct:

# The Congress of the People has condemned the ANC for the systematic collapse of governance in Kimberley’s Sol Plaatje municipality in the Northern Cape. The party states municipal leadership is defying court orders, leaving residents without water, electricity, and proper sanitation, while roads deteriorate and refuse piles up. COPE’s Pakes Dikgetsi says municipal workers have staged a sit-in over poor working conditions, and unions warn of a possible service shutdown.

# Convicted associate of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, refused to answer questions during a closed-door congressional deposition on Monday, invoking her right against self-incrimination. She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking. Appearing via video link from prison, Maxwell invoked the Fifth Amendment and campaigned for clemency from president Donald Trump. House Oversight Chair James Comer called Maxwell’s decision to plead the Fifth very disappointing, saying lawmakers have many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed.

# Cricket: Italy is sweating over the fitness of captain Wayne Madsen after he dislocated his shoulder during their first T20 World Cup group match against Pakistan. The 42-year-old fell heavily in the fourth over of his country’s debut match, which they lost by three wickets. They next play Nepal in Mumbai, India, on Thursday, before meeting England in Kolkata on Monday and the West Indies at the same venue on the 19th. Madsen is a former South African hockey international and a stalwart of county cricket with Derbyshire.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-89-cents and the euro at 18-rand-92-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-358-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-30-dollars-76-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-60-cents a barrel.

# And finally: President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to Bishop doctor John Bolana, describing him as a voice of reason. Bolana, the fifth Bishop of the Bantu Church of Christ, passed away last Tuesday in Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape, following a short illness. The 82-year-old has been granted a Special Provincial Official Category 2 funeral. Ramaphosa, who visited the late bishop’s family home in Gqeberha on Monday, said Bolana was a spiritual giant:

Stay tuned for more news………….