News 12:00

BULLETIN 12 February 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Eastern Cape Judge President is placed on special leave pending the Judicial Service Commission’s decision
# John Steenhuisen dismisses claims he was pushed out of the DA’s leadership race
# And soccer: Tickets for the Soweto Derby are sold out in record time

# The office of the Chief Justice has confirmed Eastern Cape Judge President, Selby Mbenenge, has been placed on special leave while the Judicial Service Commission finalises its consideration of the Judicial Conduct Tribunal report. Mbenenge, who was accused of sexual harassment by clerk Andiswa Mengo, was found not guilty of the offence, but found guilty of misconduct for initiating and conducting a flirtatious relationship with her on WhatsApp. The JSC is scheduled to convene a sitting on 5 March to consider the tribunal’s report.

# Outgoing DA leader John Steenhuisen has strongly disputed allegations he has been pushed out of the leadership race. Last week, he announced he won’t seek a third term at the elective congress in April. The Helen Zille faction reportedly pushed him to stand down amid criticism of his handling of the foot-and-mouth disease crisis as minister of Agriculture. Steenhuisen told the SABC he has accomplished what he set out to achieve:

# Acting Police minister, Firoz Cachalia, says a revised stabilisation plan to combat gang violence and organised crime in the Western Cape is being finalised. According to police, efforts over the past few months have led to notable arrests, including 17 gang affiliates. Ministry’s spokesperson, Kamogelo Mokgotse, says the plan places strong emphasis on the enhanced deployment of specialised units in addition to the existing anti-gang unit to areas most affected:

# Soccer: The Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at Johannesburg’s FNB stadium will be a sold-out affair. All tickets for the highly anticipated encounter were snatched up in record time both online and at retail outlets, while lots of supporters had been left empty-handed. The organisers advised fans without tickets not to turn up at the venue on the 28th as security will be at high alert. The lucky ones who secured tickets are asked to arrive early to enjoy the pre-match entertainment.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-88-cents and the euro at 18-rand-86-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-66-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-987-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-and-66-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-21-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service warns romance scams spike during the Month of Love, with criminals using increasingly sophisticated, tech‐driven tactics to deceive their victims. Spokesperson Andrew Simpson says this month is traditionally a time when people seek companionship with the hope of finding true love. He says while many are searching for genuine relationships, scammers are equally active:

Stay tuned for more news………….