News 09:00

BULLETIN 14 February 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Lukanyo Calata calls for former presidents to testify at the TRC cases inquiry
# Stats SA reports a 1.4-percent decline in manufacturing output in December
# And golf: The Masters champion, Patrick Reed, is going to play in the South African Open

# Second witness at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission cases, Lukanyo Calata, the son of Fort Calata of the Cradock Four, has urged the commission to subpoena former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma over failures in investigating and prosecuting TRC cases. Representing victims’ families, Calata criticised the former leaders for undermining the inquiry and questioned why Mbeki did not act on TRC reports, causing prolonged denied justice to victims’ families:

# Statistics South Africa says manufacturing production fell by 1.4-percent in December last year compared to a year earlier. The biggest declines were recorded in food and beverages, wood and paper products, and basic iron and steel. However, petroleum and chemical products showed strong growth. Stats SA’s Nicolai Claassen says manufacturing sales decreased sharply by 4.5-percent in December, with the motor vehicle sector recording the largest drop:

# The Competition Commission has carried out search and seizure operations at four scrap metal purchasing companies in Gauteng. The raids took place in Germiston, Nigel, Vanderbijlpark, and Hammanskraal as part of an investigation into alleged price fixing. The firms are suspected of coordinating scrap metal price increases. Documents and electronic data have been seized for further analysis. The commission’s Siyabulela Makunga says tackling alleged collusion in the scrap metal market is key to promoting fair competition.

# Two men were jailed on Friday for plotting to kill hundreds in an Islamic State-inspired attack on the Jewish community in England. Prosecutors said the attack could have been deadlier than December’s mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein were both convicted and sentenced to 37 and 26 years, respectively. The trial began a week after an unrelated deadly attack on a synagogue in the city of Manchester, in northwest England. Prosecutors said on Friday that if carried out, their plan could have been much more serious than the attack in Australia.

# Golf: Masters champion Patrick Reed has confirmed his participation in the South African Open Championship at the Stellenbosch Golf Club from 26 February to 1 March. Reed will make his debut in golf’s second-oldest national Open by virtue of his returning status on the DP World Tour, which co-sanctions this tournament with the Sunshine Tour. The field includes fellow Major winner and five-time South African Open champion Ernie Els, Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, as well as Dylan Naidoo, Dean Burmester, Thriston Lawrence, Daniel van Tonder, and Branden Grace.

# Stellenbosch winemaker Johan Jordaan has been crowned the world’s top Chenin Blanc producer for the second year in a row. Jordaan is the Cellar Master at Spier Wines, and was named Master Chenin Blanc Winemaker at the Master Winemaker 100 awards ceremony in Paris this week. The accolade follows major wins at last year’s Global Wine Masters competition. Jordaan says the recognition reflects a long-term focus on soil health, sustainable farming, and precision winemaking:

Stay tuned for more news………….