News 07:00

BULLETIN 23 February 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The EFF says a national crime strategy is needed to tackle crime in South Africa
# Over 20 suspects are arrested for alleged tender corruption in Mpumalanga Education
# And cricket: The Proteas Women secure a convincing win against Pakistan in the first ODI

# The EFF says the latest crime statistics confirm that South Africa remains in a deep and structural crisis of violence, lawlessness, and organised criminality. The third-quarter crime statistics for the financial year 2025/2026 show that the murder rate declined by 8.7 percent, while attempted murder increased by 2.5 percent. The EFF says mass unemployment, deep inequality, collapsing public services and corruption create fertile ground for violence. It adds that a comprehensive national crime strategy that confronts both the symptoms and the structural roots of crime is needed.

# COSATU has high expectations for the 2026/27 budget to be tabled at Parliament on Wednesday by Finance minister, Enoch Godongwana. The federation says it is critical that the budget responds decisively to the pains felt by the working class and provides hope to society.  COSATU’s spokesperson, Matthew Parks, says the budget must look at tackling the dangerously high unemployment rate of 41.1-percent and weak 1.4-percent economic growth:

# The Hawks in Mpumalanga have arrested 27 suspects in connection with an alleged 113-million-rand tender fraud and corruption linked to the provincial Education Department. The suspects include nine government officials, 14 service providers, and four private individuals. A coordinated anti-corruption operation by the Hawks took place across Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Limpopo, and the Western Cape. Mpumalanga Hawks head, Nico Gerber, says the operation, which remains ongoing, is targeting 41 identified suspects in total:

# The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has expressed shock, concern, and outrage following the disclosure that at least 97 members of police have been accused of sexual violence or rape nationally. Committee chairperson Bandile Masuku says the information was revealed during a stakeholder engagement session as part of the Committee’s focused intervention study, which evaluates SAPS’ compliance with the Domestic Violence Act:

# The UK Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, says the government is not ruling anything out over the investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The 66-year-old former prince was arrested last Thursday and questioned for eleven hours after allegations that he shared sensitive information with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his time as the UK’s trade envoy. He has denied the allegations. Phillipson says the government is not ruling out having a judge-led inquiry into Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Epstein, adding that this was premature as a police investigation is still ongoing.

# Cricket: The Proteas Women took a 1-0 lead in their three-match ODI series against Pakistan with a 37-run victory in Bloemfontein. The game was reduced to 41-overs-a-side after rain delayed the start of the match by over two-hours. Sune Luus top-scored with an unbeaten 93, with Sinalo Jafta scoring an unbeaten 57 as they powered South Africa to 260 for six. In reply, Ayesha Zafar scored 81, with Tumi Sekhukhune taking three wickets as Pakistan were bowled out for 223. The second ODI will be played in Centurion on Wednesday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-99-cents and the euro at 18-rand-92-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-63-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-439-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-145-dollars-91-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-47-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….