News 07:00
BULLETIN 3 February 7 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Over 23-thousand voter registration stations are open over the weekend
# All fire lines are successfully contained in Cape Winelands District
# And, cricket: Another six brings Maphaka’s wicket tally to 18
# The Independent Electoral Commission says 23-thousand-303 registration stations across the country will open at eight this morning for all eligible South Africans to register or check their details ahead of the elections. The stations will close at five this afternoon. The same hours will apply tomorrow. November’s voter registration drive saw one-million new registrants, bringing the total to just over 26-million out of 42.3-million eligible voters. Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo assures the public preparations are in place to address challenges, including possible protests.
# Significant progress has been made by the Cape Winelands District Municipality’s Fire Services and partners, with all fire lines now contained. Due to ongoing hot weather, teams remain vigilant for potential flare-ups and will continue mopping up operations. Spokesperson Anesca Roodt attributed the success to collaborative efforts that have been crucial in managing the fires over the past 10 days:
# The South African Poultry Association has opposed the rebates introduced by the International Trade Administration Commission on chicken imports. They argue the rebates will exacerbate the challenges faced by local poultry producers, particularly after last year’s influenza outbreak. The commission announced the implementation of the rebates earlier this week. SAPA’s Izaak Breitenbach told SABC News of their concern about the rebates’ impact on the domestic poultry industry:
# Armed men shot dead a traditional ruler and kidnapped his wife and another person in south-western Nigeria. The attackers stormed the palace of Segun Aremu, a retired army general and monarch. It is not clear whether the gunmen demanded a ransom. This latest killing and abduction come days after campaigners demanded a state of emergency to deal with the issue. Some 50 civil society groups say more than one-thousand-800 people have been abducted since president Bola Tinubu took office last May.
# And, cricket: South African pace bowler Kwena Maphaka took his tally of wickets in the Under 19 World Cup to 18 with yesterday’s six against Sri Lanka in Potchefstroom. The hosts won the Super Sixes encounter by 119 runs. The young Proteas posted a good 232 for eight thanks to Lhuandré Pretorius’ 71, and then Maphaka only conceded 21 runs to help bowl Sri Lanka out for just 113. The final three Super Sixes encounters will be played today, and the semifinals will follow on Tuesday and Thursday.
Stay tuned for more news………….