News 07:00

BULLETIN 5 February 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Daniel Silke says Steenhuisen’s exit reflects the DA’s balancing act within the GNU
# South Africans now spend 71-percent of their pay on debt
# And cricket: India will face England in the Under-19 World Cup final

# Political analyst Daniel Silke says John Steenhuisen’s exit from DA leadership reflects the tough balancing act the party has in serving inside the government of national unity. Steenhuisen announced on Wednesday that he would not be seeking a third term as DA leader at the party’s federal congress in April. Silke says the DA has had to balance providing critical opposition within the GNU while facing the threat of voter fragmentation amidst internal tensions:

# The Special Investigating Unit has secured a second settlement agreement in its ongoing investigation into the misappropriation of National Lotteries Commission grant funding, linked to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games “Roadshow Send-Off” campaign. The Special Tribunal made an order directing Imbizo Events to repay 70-thousand-rand in two equal instalments. SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago says this marks the second successful recovery, following an earlier 50-thousand-rand from media personality Minenhle Dlamini, which she had irregularly received from the Mshandukani Foundation NPO:

# The National Employers Association of South Africa says the minimum wage increase comes at a time of high unemployment, poverty, and slow economic growth. The business organisation warns that the new national minimum wage of 30-rand-23-cents per hour, effective from next month, could force employers who cannot afford it to cut jobs or avoid compliance. NEASA’s Gerhard Papenfus criticised government for paying Expanded Public Works Programme workers almost half the minimum wage while imposing the increase on the private sector.

# According to DebtBusters’ latest report, many South Africans are struggling with high debt, spending an average of 71-percent of their take-home pay on debt, the highest level since 2017. Personal loans, payday loans, and credit cards remain essential, particularly for households earning over 35-thousand-rand a month, who now face a record debt-to-income ratio of 210-percent. Older consumers are also feeling the strain, with 31-percent of new debt counselling applicants over 40 yearsof age.

# US president Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, says the Department of Homeland Security will withdraw 700 immigration agents from Minnesota, leaving about two-thousand officers on the ground. The agents were part of “Operation Metro Surge”, the crackdown in Minneapolis that led to the deaths of two US citizens and inspired nationwide protests. Homan says a total drawdown would depend on cooperation with local and state law enforcement:

# 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-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 72-thousand-963-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-961-dollars-79-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-32-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….