News 06:00

BULLETIN 14 February 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa pledges to drive job creation and attract investment
# The Munich car ramming is suspected to be an attack
# And cricket: Three Pakistani players are fined over confrontations with Proteas

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has committed to driving job creation and attracting investment through ongoing economic reforms. In his response to the state of the nation address debate, he highlighted the progress made with structural reforms under Operation Vulindlela, including efforts to improve the business environment, enhance infrastructure, and support the energy sector. Ramaphosa states that focusing on sectors like tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure is key to driving growth and creating jobs:

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa welcomed proposals to improve the education system. He calls for better early childhood education, enhanced technical and vocational training, and increased support for entrepreneurship. Ramaphosa said a skilled workforce is essential to economic growth and job creation, stressing the need to transform education to meet evolving job market demands:

# Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana has amended the Public Private Partnerships regulations to deliver much-needed infrastructure and ease pressure on government finances. National Treasury says that although the economic landscape has significantly changed over the years, the regulatory framework for public-private partnerships has remained static for close to 15 years. One of the amendments is to empower departments to establish dedicated units, tasked with adopting a programmatic approach to support public-private partnerships.

# The City of Tshwane is addressing concerns over water quality at the Klipdrift Magalies Water Package Plant servicing Hammanskraal. Residents in affected areas, including Mandela Village, Marokolong, Ramotse, Kekana Gardens, and Babelegi Industrial, are advised not to drink the water until testing is completed. The city’s Zintle Mahlati says the issue arose after a power disruption last Wednesday delayed repairs, leading to deteriorating water quality:

# Police say the driver of a car that crashed into people in the German city of Munich yesterday is a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker. At least 28 people were injured when the car drove into a demonstration by the trade union Verdi. Authorities are treating the incident as a suspected attack, and local officials say the suspect was known to police for theft and drug offences. The crash happened hours before world leaders were due to arrive in the city for the Munich Security Conference.

# Cricket: Three Pakistani players had been fined for confrontations with Proteas during Wednesday’s tri-nations match in Karachi. Shaheen Shah Afridi must pay 25-percent of his match fee after he was found guilty of inappropriate physical contact over his altercation with Matthew Breetzke. Saud Shakaal and Kamran Ghulan were fined 10-percent for celebrating too close to Temba Bavuma after the South African captain was run out. Pakistan won by six wickets and is playing New Zealand in the final of the short series today.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-48-cents and the euro at 19-rand-32-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-22-cents and Bitcoin trades at 96-thousand-476-dollar-90-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-929-dollars-83-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-18-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….