News 16:00

BULLETIN 24 February 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A fire breaks out at Cape Town International Airport
# Cosatu’s public service unions will help workers who want to move away from GEMS
# And cricket: The Proteas Women face Australia in their first T20 World Cup match in June

# A fire has broken out near the international terminal at Cape Town International Airport, prompting evacuations. Authorities say parts of the terminal were cleared as firefighters responded to the blaze and brought it under control. Operations, including check-in and security screening, are affected while emergency crews remain on site. Passengers and staff were moved to safety and no injuries have been reported as investigations into the cause continue.

# The Cape Winelands District Municipality reports two active fires in the Langeberg mountains in the Western Cape. One burns above Rooiberg Cellar near Robertson, while another spreads from Meulplaas along the R62 into CWDM and Overberg areas. Spokesperson Jo-Anne Otto says both fires were ignited by lightning over the weekend. She says fire crews and local farmers continue to monitor and support containment efforts:

# North West businessman Brown Mogotsi has confirmed he remains a crime intelligence agent. He responded to a question by Advocate Maria Mokhaoetsi before Parliament’s ad hoc committee, and said he was first registered as an informant in 2001 and later became an agent in 2009. He explained that manual registration and cash payments kept him off official records, allowing him to operate undercover, gathering vital information on criminal networks and high-profile figures:

# Cosatu’s public service unions say they will facilitate a process for public servants who wish to move to other medical aid schemes. This follows the decision by the Government Employees Medical Scheme to impose a 9.8-percent member contribution increase for 2026, following an already devastating 13.4-percent increase in 2025. Cosatu’s spokesperson, Zanele Sabela, says medical aid costs are rising far above wages and inflation:

# Cricket: The Proteas Women will start their T20 World Cup campaing against Australia at Old Trafford in Manchester on 13 June. Hostesses Engeland and Sri Lanka will kick off the action at Edgbaston in Birmingham the previous day. South Africa plays its other group matches against Pakistan, India, the Netherlands and Bangladesh. The 12 teams play in two groups, followed by the knock-out stages. Matches will also be played at Lord’s and the Oval in London, in Bristol, at Headingley in Leeds, and the Rose Bowl in Southampton.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-2-cents and the euro at 18-rand-86-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-60-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-321-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-162-dollars-68-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-18-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….