News 06:00

BULLETIN 5 February 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Tau is concerned about the short nature of the AGOA extension
# AgriSA warns a minimum wage hike will add pressure to the struggling farming sector
# And, the EFF is going to support any motion of no confidence against ANC mayors or premiers

# Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition, Parks Tau, has welcomed the United States’ decision to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act. US president Donald Trump has extended the trade pact retroactively from 30 September 2025 to 31 December 2026, which falls short of the multi-year renewal that many African businesses wanted. Agoa provides duty-free access to the US market for more than one-thousand-800 products from eligible sub-Saharan African countries. Tau has expressed concern about the extension’s duration:

# Witness F told the Madlanga Commission that suspended deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya was pressured by then deputy police minister Cassel Mathe to pursue the arrest of blogger Musa Khawula for allegedly insulting ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula. Witness F said Sibiya confirmed receiving instructions from ‘high office,’ describing the matter as urgent, with complainants including Mbalula and another individual:

# AgriSA says above-inflation increases to the national minimum wage, set at 30-rand-23-cents per hour from next month, could put extra pressure on jobs and farm sustainability. The organisation says agriculture is already struggling with drought, disease outbreaks, and climate challenges. AgriSA CEO Johann Kotzé calls on the government to strengthen animal health systems, ease export restrictions, and reduce input costs to protect employment, rural livelihoods, and food security.

# EFF leader Julius Malema says his party will not support the upcoming Gauteng budget and will back any motion of no confidence against ANC mayors or premiers. Malema cites the ANC’s alleged disrespect and unilateral behavior, particularly in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. Malema warns that the ANC’s refusal to cooperate respectfully with other parties undermines voters’ interests and signals that the EFF will defend its mandate in all political processes:

# Israeli airstrikes killed at least 20 people, including six children and seven women, in Gaza. Almost 40 were wounded in the strikes. The Israeli military says it had carried out precise strikes against what it called “terrorists” who opened fire on soldiers in the north of the strip, seriously wounding a reservist. Hamas has accused Israel of using the shooting as a flimsy pretext to justify the continuation of killing and aggression against Palestinians. Israel has killed over 500 people in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect in October.

# Cricket: Five-time champions India defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets in Harare to book their place in the Under-19 Men’s World Cup. Faisal Shinozada and Uzairullah Niazai were impressive with the bat, scoring 110 and an unbeaten 101 respectively, to guide Afghanistan to a formidable score of 310 for four. In reply, Aaron George hit 115 as India chased down an Under-19 World Cup record target of 311 for the loss of just three wickets, with more than eight overs to spare. India will face England in the final tomorrow.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-6-cents and the euro at 18-rand-96-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-92-cents and Bitcoin trades at 72-thousand-394-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-987-dollars-92-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-47-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….