News 12:00

BULLETIN 16 February 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department undergoes mandatory vetting and lifestyle audits
# The border between Kenya and Somalia will reopen in April after 15 years
# And rugby: The junior Springboks are ready for a physical test against Georgia

# The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department in Gauteng begins mandatory vetting and lifestyle audits of all members from today. The move follows testimony before the Madlanga commission which revealed serious misconduct, including officials with criminal records. President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed in his state of the nation address that senior metro police managers will be re-vetted. Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza has also ordered a review of disputed promotions.

# Trade unions in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council are planning to protest against the Government Employees Medical Scheme’s recent monthly medical aid contribution increases. GEMS has implemented a 9.8-percent increase, which will be revised to 9.5-percent in April. Nursing union DENOSA’s president, Simon Hlungwani, says they will march to GEMS’ head office in Pretoria next week to demand the scrapping of the increase:

# The Rethink Your Drink campaign is calling on provincial governments to strengthen the regulation of alcohol. This is by limiting the density of liquor outlets, restricting trading hours and ending the sale of alcohol in large containers. Ramaphosa has linked excessive alcohol use to child stunting, violence, crime, and road accidents. Rethink Your Drink campaign manager, Kashifa Ancer, says urgent progress on alcohol reforms is needed:

Moving abroad:

# Kenyan president William Ruto has announced the border with Somalia will reopen in April after 15 years of closure. The frontier was shut in 2011 following attacks by Al-Shabaab. Previous reopening plans failed amid renewed violence. Ruto says residents of Mandera have been unfairly cut off from relatives in Somalia. Kenya and Somalia share a 680-kilometre border and have longstanding security and maritime disputes.

# Rugby: Junior Springboks attack coach, Melusi Mthethwa, says they will use their upcoming trip to Georgia to improve the players’ cohesion and understanding of the game model. South Africa will play a warm-up game against the Lelo Saracens on Wednesday before taking on Georgia Under-20 in two Tests next week. This is in preparation for the Junior World Championship in June and July. Mthethwa says Georgia is renowned for its bruising, forward-oriented style of play, which is exactly the kind of physicality his charges need.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-90-cents and the euro at 18-rand-86-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-69-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-694-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-and-4-dollars-43-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-12-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….