News 08:00

BULLETIN 28 February 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Santaco pledges its support to law enforcement to end the taxi industry’s bloodshed
# The DA calls for accountability following the presidential panel into the Will for Peace exercise
# And a Bulgarian fugitive is caught in Cape Town after years on the run

# The South African National Taxi Council has pledged full support to law enforcement in efforts to end taxi industry violence. This after a taxi driver and a 14-year-old learner were killed in Atlantis in the Western Cape, with two other learners injured. The council condemned the attack, called for calm, and urged that disputes be resolved through lawful channels. Santaco’s Rebecca Phala extended condolences to the affected families and the community:

# The DA says the presidential panel into the Will for Peace Exercise must lead to accountability in the South African National Defence Force. The party warns that delays and a breakdown in the chain of command show serious failures, and calls for full transparency in the inquiry. The DA’s Chris Hattingh urges president Cyril Ramaphosa to ensure the panel’s findings are released, and guarantee consequences for those who failed to follow instructions: 

# The South African Community of Faith-Based Fraternals and Federations says corruption uncovered at the Department of Home Affairs should not be used to justify regulating churches. They condemn bribery and fraud within government, but stressed that religious freedom is a constitutional right and pastors should not be licensed or controlled by the state. The organisation’s Bert Pretorius says the focus should be on reforming Home Affairs:

# A convicted Bulgarian drug trafficker is set to appear in Wynberg Magistrate’s Court in the Western Cape on Monday for extradition. Stanislav Stamenov was sentenced to 16 years in Romania in 2009 for heroin trafficking. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says Stamenov was arrested yesterday by the police’s national intervention unit following an Interpol red notice. Athlenda added that Stamenov was part of a syndicate that trafficked drugs into Romania. He was hiding in Cape Town for several years, working as an instructor at a well-known fitness club. 

# The Trump administration yesterday formally designated Iran as a state sponsor of wrongful detention. These moves come as the US is pressing for a new nuclear deal with Iran and threatened the country with military action. The executive order signed last September is meant to deter countries from illegally detaining US citizens and encourage them to release wrongful detainees. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that Iran has for decades continued to cruelly detain innocent Americans, as well as citizens of other nations, to use as political leverage against other states.

# And rugby: Springbok Sevens stalwart Impi Visser is back at the helm of the Blitzboks for the World Sevens North American leg, with the regular captain closing in on his 50th world series tournament. Blitzbok head coach Philip Snyman made six changes to the squad that returned victorious from Perth at the start of the month. Selvyn Davids, Ronald Brown, and Dewald Human are set to return from injury. The next two World Series tournaments are on consecutive weekends in Vancouver on 7 and 8 March and a week later in New York.

Stay tuned for more news………….