News 15:00

BULLETIN 12 February 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Majodina says no water disaster declaration is needed in Gauteng
# Cricket: De Kock overtakes De Villiers as South Africa’s highest run-scorer in T20 World Cups
# And Britney Spears sells the rights to her entire music catalogue

# Water and Sanitation minister Pemmy Majodina says assessments show there is no need to declare a water disaster in Gauteng. Speaking in Midrand, she stressed addressing leaks and stabilising reservoirs takes priority before considering additional rainwater usage. Majodina reassures the situation is under control and the department, in coordination with municipalities, is focused on repairing infrastructure and managing water supply effectively:

# Independent Police Investigative Directorate senior investigator Nomsa Masuku told the Madlanga commission a Brakpan police vehicle, driven by reservist Alexander Fritz, was parked at businessman Emmanuel Mbense’s mother’s home the day his body was discovered. The late Witness D, Marius van der Merwe, implicated Fritz in the torture, murder and disposal of Mbense’s body after his arrest. Masuku indicates the car was at the residence on her investigation date:

Moving abroad:

# Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel has joined US president Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. Visuals released after his meeting with US secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington show them holding a document with Netanyahu’s signature on Israel joining the board. Under Trump’s peace plan for Gaza the board was meant to supervise the region’s temporary governance. Trump thereafter said the board, with him as chairperson, would be expanded to tackle global conflicts.

# Cricket: Proteas opening batter Quinton de Kock overtook the legendary AB de Villiers as South Africa’s highest run-scorer in T20 World Cups. His 59 in yesterday’s thriller against Afghanistan propelled him to 737 runs, surpassing De Villiers’ 717. The Proteas eventually prevailed in the second super over after squandering the chance to bowl Afghanistan out in the 20th over. The first super over was tied, whereafter Afghanistan couldn’t reach the target of 24 in the second one. South Africa’s next group match is against New Zealand on Saturday.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-87-cents and the euro at 18-rand-86-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-66-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-134-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-and-61-dollars-70-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-92-cents a barrel.

# And finally: American pop superstar Britney Spears has sold the rights to her entire music catalogue. BBC reports the 44-year-old Spears is said to have sold to independent music publisher Primary Wave on 30 December for more than 3.1-billion-rand. The singer, whose protracted conservatorship long dictated her personal and professional life, is known for the hits Baby One More Time, Oops! I Did It Again, Toxic and Gimme More. In January 2024, Spears said she would never return to the music industry. Her last song was a duet released with Elton John in 2022.

Stay tuned for more news………….