News 08:00

BULLETIN 14 February 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A constitutional law expert says the ANC’s cadre deployment policy is only the tip of the iceberg
# An economist says the mining sector is still facing major challenges
# And, a three-person panel will investigate the Wilgenhof men’s residence at Stellenbosch University

# The Constitutional Court’s decision to reject the ANC’s bid to overturn an order for it to hand over all records of its cadre deployment committee is a victory for transparency. This is according to Constitutional law scholar, Pierre de Vos. In a piece for the Daily Maverick, he says the ANC’s formal cadre deployment policy is only the tip of the iceberg. De Vos says cadre deployment has become a tool to facilitate ANC corruption, and it is likely to continue for as long as the party remains in government.

# An FNB economist says the domestic mining sector still faces challenges due to subdued external demand, low commodity prices, and domestic infrastructure constraints. Mining production shrank 4.2-percent in December last year, after an upwardly revised 2.7-percent increase in November. Total mining production was 0.4-percent lower in 2023 compared with 2022. Thanda Sithole says while the intensity of load-shedding has decreased, ongoing weaknesses in port and rail infrastructure continue to pose challenges:

# Stellenbosch University has appointed a three-person panel to investigate whether unacceptable practices at the institution’s Wilgenhof men’s residence have been protected or covered up by university staff, alumni, or students. Drawings depicting what appeared to be sexual assault, black hoods, and a toxic mixture of linseed oil and aloe crystals were discovered in two rooms at the men’s residence last month. The panel members are the university’s deputy registrar for governance, Penny van der Bank, advocate, Nick de Jager, and former University of the Free State registrar, Derek Swemmer.

# US president Joe Biden has described former president Donald Trump’s comments on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as dumb, shameful, and un-American. Trump said he would encourage Russia to attack any Nato member country that did not meet its defence spending quota. Biden says Trump’s comments are dangerous, and no other president in American history has ever bowed down to a Russian dictator:

# Tennis: Number two seed and reigning US Open champion, Coco Gauff, has been knocked out of the Qatar Open in Doha. In the second round, the American was beaten 6-2, 6-4 by Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic. Fourth seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia suffered a, 6-3, 6-2, defeat to Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko. Four-time major champion Naomi Osaka of Japan booked her place in the last 16 with a straight-set victory against Croatia’s Petra Martic.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-10-cents and the euro at 20-rand-47-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-8-cents and Bitcoin trades at 49-thousand-546-dollars-89-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-992-dollars-71-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-61-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….