News 08:00

BULLETIN 24 February 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC KZN chairperson is confident the party’s manifesto launch will be a success
# ActionSA says cadre deployment cripples the country
# And, France expels a Tunisian imam over his flag comments

# ANC KwaZulu-Natal chairperson Siboniso Duma has expressed confidence in the success of the party’s manifesto launch. Members are gathering at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban as president Cyril Ramaphosa prepares to deliver the manifesto in the highly contested province. Duma says the party is confident of winning the general elections and securing a majority vote in KwaZulu-Natal:

# ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has criticised cadre deployment, stating that it hampers economic growth. Mashaba has also accused the DA of hypocrisy, alleging the party practises cadre deployment while targeting the ANC on the issue. Mashaba claims there were attempts to practise cadre deployment during his term in office as a DA member in the City of Johannesburg:

# The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has appointed Sunette Smith as its new chairperson, succeeding Dhesen Moodley. Smith, a business development executive at Reatile Group, brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having previously served as a commercial and financial director at Murray & Roberts. Her key focus areas will include addressing grid capacity challenges, a critical aspect of advancing sustainable wind energy initiatives in Southern Africa.

# France has expelled Tunisian imam Mahjoub Mahjoubi after he made unacceptable remarks about the country’s flag. Interior minister Gérald Darmanin stated that the Imam appeared to call the French flag satanic in a viral online video. Darmanin credited France’s new immigration reforms for enabling the swift deportation of Mahjoubi. However, the Imam denied the accusation, stating he did not intend to be disrespectful. Mahjoubi resided in France for 38 years and served as an imam at the Ettaouba mosque in the south of the country.

# And, tennis: Qualifier Anna Kalkinskaya of Russia surprised Polish favourite Iga Swiatek in straight sets at yesterday’s Dubai Open to secure her place in this afternoon’s final. She beat Swiatek 6-4, 6-4 to meet Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, who beat Sorana Cirstea of Romania 6-2, 7-6. Both finalists will move into the top-twenty rankings for the first time on Monday.

Stay tuned for more news………….