News 07:00

BULLETIN 13 February 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says the government shall reform the criminal justice system
# South African Canegrowers says the local sugar industry is on life support
# And, Donald Trump’s administration is ending its immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says government is determined that the findings and recommendations of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry will lay the basis for a fundamental reform of the criminal justice system. Delivering the State of the Nation Address yesterday evening, he said the rule of law depends on a police service that is ethical, responsive, and rooted in the communities that it serves. Ramaphosa has emphasised that it cannot be accepted that those who speak out against corruption are victimised and targeted:

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa also says the South African National Defence Force will be deployed to support police in dealing with gang violence and illegal mining in the Western Cape and Gauteng. Ramaphosa says he will inform the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces regarding the timing and place of deployment of the soldiers and what it will cost:

# The South African sugar industry faces a major crisis as Tongaat Hulett moves toward liquidation. The company’s mills, refining facilities, and cane-growing operations support thousands of small- and large-scale growers in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. SA Canegrowers chairperson Higgins Mdluli warns that the collapse threatens the livelihoods of thousands of sugarcane growers. Mdluli calls on the government and Tongaat’s rescue practitioners to urgently secure milling continuity and protect grower incomes:

# The High Court in Johannesburg has granted tenderpreneur Vusi “Cat” Matlala access to consult with his lawyers at Kgosi Mampuru C-Max prison in Tshwane ahead of his pre-trial hearing. Matlala, facing 25 serious charges including 11 counts of attempted murder, appeared in court with his wife Tsakane and three co-accused. The court ordered correctional services to provide a space for private, unrestricted discussions. The pre-trial proceedings have been postponed and are set to continue on 26 February.

# US president Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, says they are ending the immigration enforcement crackdown in Minnesota. Operation Metro Surge led to mass protests, over four-thousand undocumented immigrants arrested, and the deaths of two US citizens who were killed by immigration officers. At its peak, about three-thousand immigration officers were surged into Minnesota. Homan says he will remain on the ground for a little longer to oversee the drawdown of agents:

# Tennis: South Africa will face Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first time in six years in their Davis Cup World Group Two tie at home in September. The team retained their place in the group after beating Montenegro 3-2 in their tie in Centurion last week. Captain Pietie Norval says they are confident that the home crowd and local conditions would play a key role in helping them compete for a place in the 2027 World Group One promotion play-offs.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-94-cents and the euro at 18-rand-92-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-71-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-528-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-975-dollars-84-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-22-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….