News 07:00

BULLETIN 13 February 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Democratic Union Party threatens with Constitutional Court action if president Ramaphosa fails to address Electoral Act issues
# Saftu says the government and Eskom are failing to end load-shedding
# And, the Public Servants Association is concerned about the high number of unemployed doctors

# The Democratic Union Party has threatened to approach the Constitutional Court urgently, challenging the constitutionality of certain Electoral Act issues. In a letter to president Cyril Ramaphosa, the party demands a special sitting of Parliament to address conflicts between electoral laws and constitutional provisions. They seek resolutions on the right to vote, recall mechanisms, and alignment issues in legislation, ensuring a constitutionally sound framework ahead of the elections. The party believes current laws jeopardise constitutional principles and warns of the courts’ intervention if no parliamentary action occurs within 14 days.

# The South African Federation of Trade Unions says it is outraged that the Eskom management and government are failing to end load-shedding, despite president Cyril Ramaphosa saying they are stabilising the energy supply. The power utility implemented stage six load-shedding over the weekend after losing nine generating units, amounting to four-thousand-400 megawatts of power. Saftu’s spokesperson, Trevor Shaku, says it is concerning that the ANC is trying to find ways to rationalise their poor management of Eskom:

# The Western Cape government says higher stages of load-shedding are exacerbating the electricity crisis for the Central Karoo. Several areas and farms have been grappling with a week-long blackout caused by damage to infrastructure due to adverse weather conditions. Collaborating with Eskom, the government is making concerted efforts to restore power to the affected areas, promising relief by Thursday. Premier Alan Winde says the situation remains critical as the residents endure ongoing electricity disruptions:

# The Public Servants Association of South Africa says it is extremely concerned about the increasing number of unemployed doctors in the country especially in the Eastern Cape. Close to 700 medical doctors in the country have not been able to find a job in the public sector since qualifying. This is due to a shrinking health budget, rising salaries, and high medical negligence claims. The association says government must prevent a scenario where doctors are forced to leave the country owing to a lack of job opportunities.

# The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, says a potential full-fledged military operation into Rafah is terrifying, given the prospect that an extremely high number of civilians will likely be killed. Israel has carried out a wave of strikes in the southern city of Gaza, killing over 60 people, while rescuing two hostages from a building. Türk says a full military operation into Rafah may also mean the end of the small humanitarian aid, that has been entering and distributed with huge implications for all of Gaza.

# Cricket: India batter, KL Rahul, whose availability for the remaining three Tests against England was subject to fitness, has been ruled out of the third Test starting on Thursday. He also missed the second Test, which India won to level the series one-all, with a thigh issue. Devdutt Padikka has replaced Rahul. The Board of Control for Cricket in India says Rahul has reached 90-percent match fitness and is expected to return for the fourth and fifth Tests.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-92-cents and the euro at 20-rand-37-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-87-cents and Bitcoin trades at 50-thousand-77-dollars-41-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-19-dollars-42-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….