News 07:00

BULLETIN 21 February 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The acting Police minister promises a whole-of-government approach to public safety
# An arrest warrant keeps Grace Mugabe from returning to South Africa
# And Britain’s royals face their worst crisis in 90 years

# Acting Police minister Firoz Cachalia says the government will adopt a whole-of-government approach to improve public safety. The plan includes better coordination between national, provincial, and local authorities, as well as support from social departments. Cachalia told the media that stronger policing, community involvement, and coordinated social programmes are key to reducing crime and making communities safer:

Meanwhile, Action Society says the latest crime statistics fail to show the true state of the justice system. The organisation argues that without published conviction rates and reliable data on violence against women and children, the figures do not reflect whether criminals are actually being punished. Action Society’s Juanita du Preez says arrests alone do not deter crime:

# The Congress of South African Trade Unions has applauded the tabling of the Insourcing Bill, which requires state organs to directly employ staff for security, cleaning, maintenance, IT, auditing, and other services. COSATU’s Matthew Parks says insourcing will improve workers’ conditions, curb corruption, dismantle state capture networks, and protect public resources. He says that the federation urges Parliament’s speedy passage and approval of the Bill into law:

# Former Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe is reportedly unable to travel to South Africa to support her son, Bellarmine Mugabe. This, after he was arrested in Johannesburg yesterday for allegedly shooting the family gardener in Hyde Park. According to News24, Mugabe, who is currently in Singapore, fears arrest due to an outstanding 2018 warrant linked to an assault case. The police are investigating the incident, searching for a missing firearm, and have seized Mugabe Junior’s BMW fitted with sirens.

# The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, and the public humiliation over his relationship with the late convicted U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has raised concerns that the saga could spell the beginning of the end for the one-thousand-year-old monarchy. The House of Windsor is no stranger to scandals, embarrassments, and calamities, and has often been at the centre of controversy. However, the campaign group Republic, which filed complaints with the police over the former prince and Epstein, is now using the arrest to repeat its demand for the institution to go.

# And cricket: The Super Eights phase of the T20 World Cup starts tomorrow in Colombo as Pakistan faces New Zealand in Group 2 at the R. Premadasa Stadium at 3.30 pm. Pakistan enters with momentum after crushing Namibia, while the Black Caps seek redemption following a heavy loss to South Africa. In their Super Eights opener, South Africa will face India in Group 1 on Sunday afternoon. Each team plays the other three in their group once. The top two from each group will advance to the semi-finals on 4 and 5 March.

Stay tuned for more news………….