News 16:00

BULLETIN 12 February 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Majodina confirms Johannesburg’s water supply will stabilise by Sunday
# Demonstrators in Cape Town accuse government of empty promises ahead of SONA
# And Olympics: A Mexican mom and son are set to make Winter Games history

# Water and Sanitation minister Pemmy Majodina says full water supply will be restored to affected Johannesburg communities by Sunday. She explained reservoirs below 40-percent level cannot pump adequately to high-lying areas, so water redistribution is being implemented. Majodina urges residents to conserve water while the city replaces aging pipelines and upgrades reservoirs. She says support from national Treasury and private partners is being sought to expedite infrastructure improvements:

# Supporters of Operation Dudula and Stop Farm Killings have called for urgent action on farm killings, unemployment and poor service delivery ahead of tonight’s state of the nation address. A small group gathered near City Hall in Cape Town, claiming president Cyril Ramaphosa has for years made promises that have not translated into real change. They raised concerns about unplaced learners, high unemployment and struggling township economies. The group also claims farm murders remain a serious concern and wants stronger intervention.

Staying in the Mother City:

# The DA in the Western Cape has expressed concern over potential passenger disruptions as Cape Town International Airport begins a nine-billion-rand upgrade. The project includes a new domestic arrivals terminal, expansion of the international terminal, security upgrades, and a new main runway, with construction set to start next month and ends in  2029. The DA’s Noko Masipa says careful planning and clear communication will be essential to manage disruptions:

# Eskom CEO Dan Marokane says the power utility can now focus on appropriate electricity pricing to support key and vulnerable sectors. This comes on the back of energy regulator NERSA approving Eskom’s application for a 35-percent reduction in electricity tariffs for ferrochrome producers Samancor Chrome and Glencore-Merafe. Speaking at the Mining Indaba in Cape Town, Marokane stated they are exploring sustainable pricing models to protect jobs and boost competitiveness.

# Olympics: Sarah Schleper and Lasse Gaxiola from Mexico will make history in Northern Italy this weekend when they become the first mother and son to compete at the same Winter Games. Forty-six-year-old Schleper will compete in Alpine skiing and 18-year-old Gaxiola in the giant slalom. But they won’t be able to cheer each other on, as Gaxiola will compete in Bormio and Schleper in Cortina. Schleper will also become the oldest female Alpine skier at the Games, and the first to appear at seven Games.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-86-cents and the euro at 18-rand-85-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-65-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-855-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-and-60-dollars-32-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….