NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 9 February 3 pm

Good afternoon,

In this bulletin:

# Athol Trollip is named as the new high-profile member of ActionSA
# The Durban Chamber of Commerce says government needs to regain their trust
# And Cricket: Prominent South African and Australian players to miss the first part of the IPL

# Former Nelson Mandela Bay mayor and senior DA member Athol Trollip has joined ActionSA. He was also announced as the party’s chairperson in the Eastern Cape. Speaking at a news briefing in Gqeberha, Trollip says he accepted the offer by ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba to join the party to vote for change. He says he has returned to politics for change:

Play sound: ENG Trollip

Meanwhile Trollip also says he wants to see change and action to improve the lives of South Africans. He said it is time for South Africans to live in a proper democracy. Trollip will be the fifth provincial chairperson of ActionSA. He says he will lead the setup and expansion of the party’s footprint in the Eastern Cape:

Play sound: ENG Athol Trollip

# The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry calls for transparent communication and robust dialogues towards regaining the trust of businesses. According to the chamber’s Palesa Phili, the report on last year’s July unrest proves security personnel were not reactive, and were slow. Phili has urged Government to promptly address security and intelligence weaknesses that have been identified. The Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business says some businesses have mixed emotions to reinvest in KwaZulu-Natal. The Durban Chamber calls for appropriate consequences for the security cluster for failing to perform its duty.

# Tembisa Hospital has been temporarily closed following a fatal shooting incident earlier this morning. It is alleged that a police officer shot and killed his partner, an enrolled nursing assistant, and turned the gun on himself. The Gauteng Department of Health advises members of the public to visit nearby health facilities as the hospital remains inaccessible. The department’s spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, says the public will be notified when the facility reopens:

Play sound: ENG HospitalClosed

# Cricket: Prominent players such as South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and Australian David Warner will probably miss the first part of this year’s Indian Premier League due to international obligations. The tournament starts at the end of next month. ESPN CricInfo reports Warner and other Australian players like Pat Cummins and Steven Smith will be on tour in Pakistan till the fifth of April, while Rabada, Anrich Nortjé and Marco Jansen will represent the Proteas against Bangladesh until 12 April. Cricket South Africa says the country’s players will only be available for the IPL after Bangladesh’s visit.

# Financial indicators: The dollar is trading at 15-rand-27-cents and the euro at 17-rand-47-cents. One British pound costs 20-rand-74-cents and Bitcoin trades at 43-thousand-750-dollars-8-cents. Gold is selling at one thousand-826-dollars-68-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-34-cents a barrel.

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