News 09:00

BULLETIN 22 February 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# TLU SA welcomes the arrival of FMD vaccines
# Minister Manamela gears TVET Colleges for a skills development system
# And, president Ramaphosa appoints an agriculture and land envoy

# The agriculture organisation TLU SA has welcomed the arrival of the first consignment of one-million high-potency foot-and-mouth disease vaccines from Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina. The organisation says now farmers need to comply with quarantine measures, movement restrictions and surveillance to combat the outbreak. TLU SA Bennie Van Zyl emphasised the need to involve the private sector in the vaccination programme as outbreaks have been reported across the country:

# Higher Education minister, Buti Manamela says South Africa is repositioning technical and vocational education and Training colleges at the centre of occupational training and artisan development. Manamela says during his state of the nation address president Cyril Ramaphosa directed government to implement a dual training model. This will integrate education with workplace experience and strengthens the role of TVET colleges as primary sites of occupational training. Manamela says this directive is now being operationalised:

# The DA is deeply concerned by the findings of a recent study by the University of the Free State, that harmful endocrine disrupting chemicals are present in well-known and widely used sanitary products. The DA’s Angel Khanyile says these findings represent a serious public health concern that demands urgent attention. She says they are calling for an urgent investigation by the National Consumer Commission into product safety compliance:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Wandile Sihlobo as Presidential Envoy on Agriculture and Land. Sihlobo is the chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa and also a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council. Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says Ramaphosa has appointed Sihlobo as an envoy in view of the importance of agriculture in South Africa’s economic growth path, recurrent challenges in the sector and growth opportunities domestically and abroad. He adds Sihlobo will support the Presidency’s priorities and objectives on agriculture, rural development, land reform and international trade.

# American president Donald Trump said on Saturday he will raise a temporary tariff from 10 to 15-percent on US imports from all countries, the maximum level allowed under the law. The move came after Trump announced a 10-percent across-the-board tariff on Friday, after a court decision that the president had exceeded his authority when he imposed an array of higher rates under an economic emergency law. Trade experts and congressional aides are sceptical that Congress would extend the tariffs. Recent polls showed growing numbers of Americans blame the duties for higher prices.

# Tennis: Jessica Pegula gave herself an early birthday present by clinching her fourth WTA 1000 crown with a comfortable 6-2, 6-4 victory over Elina Svitolina in the Dubai final on Saturday. The fourth-seeded American denied Svitolina a chance to win a third title in the northern emirate and improved her record against the Ukrainian to 6-3 head-to-head. Pegula, who turns 32 on Tuesday, has made at least the semifinals in each of her last seven tournaments and walks away from Dubai with a 10th career title.

Stay tuned for more news………….