News 08:00

BULLETIN 14 February 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# OUTA warns that task teams will not fix governance failures without enforcement
# AgriSA warns of a severe financial strain on livestock producers
# And cricket: The Proteas meet New Zealand in the T20 World Cup today

# The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse says more task teams and committees alone cannot fix South Africa’s governance failures without proper enforcement and consequences. The organisation believes systemic corruption continues to undermine public institutions, and weak implementation and limited accountability remain major challenges. OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage says real reform will only happen when there are clear deadlines and action taken against those who fail to do their jobs:

# The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has approved the emergency import of a foot-and-mouth disease vaccine to help protect the livestock sector. The authority has granted special authorisation to import the Dollvet foot-and-mouth disease vaccine, ensuring farmers and veterinarians can protect animals against the highly contagious disease. All imports will undergo strict quality and safety checks. SAHPRA’s Rodgers Baloyi says the Department of Agriculture will coordinate distribution nationwide:

Meanwhile, AgriSA says president Cyril Ramaphosa’s declaration of the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease outbreak as a national disaster must now enable a properly coordinated national response. The organisation warns that farmers and rural communities are already facing severe financial strain from movement restrictions, delayed sales, and increased biosecurity costs. AgriSA CEO Johann Kotzé says strict compliance across farms and the livestock value chain is essential to contain the outbreak.

# First National Bank has fully digitalised its stokvel account offering, targeting South Africa’s eleven-million stokvel members. The new system allows full account management via the FNB app and online banking, removing the need for three members to visit a branch. The move aims to reduce cash-handling risks and ease administrative duties for treasurers. FNB currently serves 120-thousand stokvel clubs, with total inflows reaching 13.3-billion-rand by December 2024.

# Cricket: The top-two teams in Group D, New Zealand and South Africa, will face off in the T20 World Cup today. Their match in Ahmedabad, India, starts at 3.30 this afternoon, South African time. Both teams won their first two matches, the Proteas beating Canada and Afghanistan, while the Black Caps overcame Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates. Today’s first action is in Colombo, Sri Lanka, between Ireland and Oman, followed by the match between England and Scotland in Kolkata, India.

# And finally: Business is booming for marriage proposal planners in Paris, dubbed the “City of Love,” with love-struck couples paying thousands of rand for bespoke proposal experiences. For many, Valentine’s Day is the busiest of the year. Clients will splurge around 38-thousand-rand for proposal packages on the banks of the River Seine. For the luxury market, there are choreographed proposals aboard yachts or in castles, for as much as 200-thousand-rand. TV shows like Emily in Paris and the 2024 Olympics have boosted the city’s global visibility as a proposal hotspot.

Stay tuned for more news………….