News 12:00

BULLETIN 20 February 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Forum for South Africa wants a probe into excessive meat price increases
# Over 13-thousand firearms are destroyed in Vanderbijlpark
# And motorsport: Formula One’s president pleads for calm following criticism over the new regulations

# Forum for South Africa is calling for an investigation into excessive meat price increases. New data from Statistics South Africa shows the annual rate for meat accelerated to 13.5-percent from December’s 12.6-percent, while three beef products recorded the highest annual rates of all 391 products in the consumer price index basket. FOSA leader Tebogo Mashilompane says meat is becoming unaffordable for working-class households:

# Police have not found the gun used in the shooting incident of a gardener at the residence of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s son in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, yesterday. In the evening, police cordoned off the crime scene and continued the search for the gun with a multidisciplinary team, including divers, forensics and a K-9 unit. Bellarmine Mugabe and another unidentified suspect have been charged with attempted murder. Police say a black BMW fitted with white lights belonging to Mugabe has been seized as evidence. 

# Police destroyed over 13-thousand-859 firearms and firearm parts during a destruction process in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng. This is the second firearm destruction process for the current financial year. Police spokesperson Amanda van Wyk says they have destroyed 305-thousand-934 firearms in the last seven years:

# Motorsport: Formula One president, Stefano Domenicali, says he does not understand the panic around the new regulations for this season. The biggest rule change in F1 history has seen cars, engines, and tyres all subject to change, in addition to the introduction of carbon-neutral, sustainable fuels. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen described the new cars as like Formula E on steroids. Domenicali says people need to be calm, as this is just the beginning of a new journey. He adds changes would be made if necessary.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-15-cents and the euro at 18-rand-98-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-905-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-and-12-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-24-cents a barrel.

# And finally: American actor Eric Dane, best known for his role as doctor Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy, has passed away at the age of 53. He was diagnosed with a type of motor neuron disease, ALS, last year. Dane enjoyed a robust television and film career that began in the early 1990s. He also appeared in popular TV shows including Saved by the Bell, The Wonder Years, Roseanne and medical drama Gideon’s Crossing. Dane made his film debut in Rich Cowan’s The Basket in 2000.

Stay tuned for more news………….