News 07:00

BULLETIN 4 February 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# TLU SA says the government adopts policies that contradict free-market principles
# The EFF praises president Ramaphosa for signing controversial bills
# And rugby: The Stormers will be without Schickerling for the derby against the Bulls

# Agricultural organisation TLU SA says a centrally regulated land ownership model, as envisioned in the Expropriation Act, will deter investment and undermine South Africans’ property rights. US president Donald Trump has stated that America will cut future funding to South Africa until a full investigation into the country’s land expropriation policies is complete. TLU SA’s, Bennie van Zyl, says they believe that Trump has grown tired of the way African leaders evade accountability regarding the use of humanitarian aid:

# EFF member Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has commended president Cyril Ramaphosa for signing the NHI Bill, Bela Bill, and Expropriation Bill into law, despite opposition from some parties, including the EFF. While the party supports the Bela Act, it opposes the Expropriation Act and the NHI Act. Ndlozi, who recently resigned as a member of parliament, praised Ramaphosa’s leadership, calling him committed to genuine transformation.

# The Eskom board has appointed Leslie Mkhabela as the lead independent director. He joined the board as an independent non-executive director in October 2022, when the new board was appointed by the late Public Enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan. Eskom’s spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, says Mkhabela has consistently demonstrated decisive, ethical, and inclusive leadership:

# AfriForum has called on Public Works minister Dean Macpherson to urgently investigate the collapse of the Batlharo Boo Tokwana Ba Ga Masibi Traditional Council office in North West. The building, which had long-standing structural issues, partially collapsed on 29 January. AfriForum’s Barend Uys blames government inaction for the failure and warns that other public buildings could pose similar risks if authorities do not take preventive action:

# A French court has ordered a filmmaker to wear an electronic bracelet for two years after finding him guilty of sexually assaulting an actress when she was a child. Adele Haenel, now 35, has accused filmmaker 60-year old Christophe Ruggia of assaulting her in the early 2000s when she was between 12 and 14 and he was in his late 30s. The Paris court handed Ruggia a four-year prison sentence, two years of which were suspended and two of which are to be served with the bracelet instead of in jail.

# Rugby: Stormers lock JD Schickerling will miss Saturday’s United Rugby Championship derby against the Bulls in Cape Town, due to a shoulder injury. He suffered the injury in the first half of the loss to Leinster in Dublin last month. In Schickerling’s absence, Salmaan Moerat will likely link up with Ruben van Heerden in the second row. Meanwhile, assistant coach Norman Laker says Manie Libbok, who sustained a knee injury also against Leinster, might be up for selection after getting a few days off to try and recover.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-75-cents and the euro at 19-rand-33-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-27-cents and Bitcoin trades at 101-thousand-513-dollar-40-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-820-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-49-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….