News 06:00

BULLETIN 12 February 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# John Steenhuisen defends the DA’s role in the government of national unity
# The MK Party’s Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla issues an apology
# And rugby: A former Bok may become Wales’ next head coach

# DA leader and Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen has warned that violent crime and failing education continue to harm South Africans, with 70 people murdered daily. Speaking in the state of the nation address debate, Steenhuisen defended the DA’s role in the government of national unity, vowing to fight corruption and economic decline. He urged swift reforms to boost jobs, cut living costs, and strengthen rural crime prevention where farm attacks remain a serious concern:

# EFF leader Julius Malema has criticised president Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership, accusing him of failing to address South Africa’s growing crises. In the state of the nation address debate, Malema highlighted the lack of a clear economic strategy, stagnant job creation, high food prices, transport costs, gender-based violence, water shortages, and corruption. He slammed Ramaphosa for broken promises, such as the failure to deliver smart cities and high-speed trains:

# MK Party member of Parliament Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, has issued a formal apology to former president Jacob Zuma, the party leadership, and its members for using profanity in recent social media posts. Acknowledging her concerns over internal matters, Zuma-Sambudla admitted her public approach undermined party unity and discipline. She pledged to address issues through proper channels. She also reaffirmed her commitment to the MK Party’s values of respect, solidarity, and revolutionary discipline.

# The coalition parties governing the City of Tshwane say they remain committed to ensuring that the metro continues on a path of sustainable development, good governance, and service excellence. Mayor Nasiphi Moya gave a report on Tuesday on the successes of the multi-party coalition government over the past 100 days. She stated that her administration has made headway in turning the metro around. The coalition parties say there have been tangible improvements made in Tshwane’s financial recovery, service delivery, and the Hammanskraal water crisis.

# US vice president JD Vance has warned that excessive regulation will kill the rapidly growing artificial intelligence industry. He addressed world leaders and tech executives at the Artificial Intelligence Action summit in Paris, France, on Tuesday. Vance says the US intends to remain the dominant force in AI and strongly opposed the European Union’s far tougher regulatory approach. He adds that America wants AI to remain free from ideological bias:

# Rugby: Former Springbok flyhalf Franco Smith is touted as a possible successor to Warren Gatland as head coach of Wales. Gatland left with immediate effect after 14 straight losses. Cardiff’s coach, Matt Sherratt, takes over until the end of the Six Nations. Other names mentioned as permanent replacements are Ireland’s interim head coach, Simon Easterby, and former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. Fifty-two-year-old Smith played 18 matches for South Africa in the 90s and coached teams such as the Cheetahs and Italy. He currently coaches Glasgow Warriors.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-49-cents and the euro at 19-rand-17-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-4-cents and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-887-dollar-30-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-899-dollars-30-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-83-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….