News 11:00
BULLETIN 5 February 11 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasises the vital need for the country’s logistics architecture to be fixed
# Cricket, New Zealand dominates with the bat in the first Test against South Africa
# And, minister Kodwa congratulates Tyla with her historic Grammy award
# President Cyril Ramaphosa says for South African companies to take up the opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area, the country’s logistics architecture needs to be fixed. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa says a Freight Logistics Roadmap has been crafted, outlining a clear set of actions to stabilise and improve Transnet’s performance in the short and long term. Ramaphosa says steps being taken now will not only improve performance in the immediate term but will also create a truly competitive and efficient system in the future.
# RISE Mzansi leader, Songezo Zibi, is encouraged by the preliminary numbers released by the Electoral Commission, which indicate South Africans are ready to use the national and provincial elections to elect the new leaders everybody deserves. Zibi says what is of keen interest is that the IEC’s online voter portal has seen approximately 200-thousand South Africans register to vote since the November registration weekend:
# US president Joe Biden has joined the chorus of global leaders who have paid tribute to Namibia’s president Hage Geingob. The 82-year-old, who was receiving cancer treatment, passed away yesterday. Biden says Geingob was a fearless leader, an eloquent advocate for his country and Africa, and a person who stood up for his values and beliefs. Russian president Vladimir Putin says it is difficult to overestimate Geingob’s contribution to developing friendly relations between Namibia and Russia. Zimbabwe’s president Emmerson Mnangagwa says Geingob’s leadership and resilience will be remembered.
# Cricket: South Africa reached 80 for four in their first innings at stumps on day two of the first Test against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui. Rachin Ravindra continued a remarkable return to the Test format by reaching his maiden double-century, 240 off 366 balls, as the Black Caps were bowled out for 511 in their first innings. Captain Neil Brand claimed six wickets. In reply, David Bedingham is unbeaten on 29 as South Africa trails New Zealand by 431 runs with six wickets remaining.
# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-92-cents and the euro at 20-rand-39-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-86-cents and Bitcoin trades at 42-thousand-822-dollars-58-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-28-dollars-8-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-47-cents a barrel.
# And finally, minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, has congratulated South African singer and songwriter Tyla for winning her first Grammy Award. The 22-year-old won in the new category Best African Music Performance for her smash hit Water. The ministry’s spokesperson, Litha Mpondwana, says South Africa had a notable presence at the Grammys, with Trevor Noah hosting for a fourth time and nominated for Best Comedy Album, while Acapella group Just 6 and Musa Keys were also nominated:
Stay tuned for more news………….