NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 9 February 5 pm

Good afternoon,

In this bulletin:

# The Freedom Front Plus says the ANC is paying lip service to gender-based violence victims
# Consultations begin about sex work decriminalisation
# And Cricket: The Titans are too strong for the Rocks in the CSA T20 Challenge in the Eastern Cape

# The Mpumalanga Freedom Front Plus says the provincial government is paying lip service to campaigns to protect women and children from crime and gender-based violence. A FF Plus member of the Legislature, Werner Weber, says the police’s Unit for Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences only has two vehicles to help victims in five towns. He says he would like to remind premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane that she promised in her state of the province speech last year that these shortages will be addressed:

Play sound: ENG WernerWeberONVehiclesSAPS

# Justice and Constitutional Development deputy minister John Jeffery says the possible decriminalisation of sex work must be fully debated before a decision is taken. He started a series of consultations with interested parties and stakeholders on the issue today. Jeffrey says it is important to engage with stakeholders regarding the proposed policy options, as well as relevant government departments and the public view to ascertain the implications of changing the legislative framework. Several municipalities also have by-laws, which are aimed at removing or arresting sex workers.

# The City of Tshwane thanked the Gift of the Givers, NotinMyName, Pretoria South Lions club, Shoprite as well as community members who donated relief packages to families affected by floods in Mamelodi West, Gomora, Nellmapius and Sebothoma. The donated relief packages include mattresses, blankets, nappies, and food packages. The city’s spokesperson, Jordan Griffiths, says this will replenish the goods that have already been used since the temporary relocation of the affected families:

Play sound: ENGJordanGriffiths

# Cricket: The Titans beat the Boland Rocks by a mere three runs in their CSA T20 Challenge match at St George’s Park in Gqeberha. The Gauteng team posted 158 for two, spearheaded by Protea wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock’s 72 off just 61 balls. Gihan Cloete scored 53 off 41. The Rocks were then restricted to 155 for eight after Janneman Malan scored 45 and Michael Copeland 39. National bowler Junior Dala took three wickets. Today’s second match is between the Warriors and Western Province.

# Financial indicators: The dollar is trading at 15-rand-33-cents and the euro at 17-rand-53-cents. One British pound costs 20-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 43-thousand-999-dollars-7-cents. Gold is selling at one thousand-826-dollars-54-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-82-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The organisers of an international fashion show say they are looking forward to host an Eastern Cape fashion designer, Thando Piliso, at the prestigious Nook International Fashion Show to be held in Lagos, Nigeria, this weekend. They say it is his design philosophy of refreshing innovation, and up-to-date styles which got him an invitation to showcase his designs. Piliso started off as a self-taught fashion designer. As his passion for design grew he enrolled with the Damelin School of Fashion, where he obtained a certificate in fashion designing and retail buying.

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