News 11:00

BULLETIN 12 February 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# John Steenhuisen dismisses claims he was pushed out of the DA’s leadership race
# OUTA sounds the alarm on a rushed AARTO deal amid fears of private profit in traffic fines
# And soccer: Tickets for the Soweto Derby were sold out in record time

# Outgoing DA leader John Steenhuisen has strongly disputed allegations he has been pushed out of the leadership race. He announced last week he won’t seek a third term at the elective congress in April. The Helen Zille faction reportedly pushed Steenhuisen to stand down amid criticism of his handling of the foot-and-mouth disease crisis as minister of Agriculture. Steenhuisen told the SABC he has accomplished what he set out to achieve:

# The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse has warned against linking private profit to traffic fine administration in a controversial tender by the Road Traffic Infringement Agency for the AARTO system. It says the tender, issued over the December holiday, was rushed and risks duplicating existing government capacity, which could increase costs and weaken state systems. OUTA’s Stefanie Fick says profit-driven incentives in traffic enforcement could erode public trust:

# Gauteng premier, Panyaza Lesufi, has issued an apology following his comments that he had to use a hotel to bath amid the current water crisis. Large parts of the province have been without running water for several weeks. Lesufi was accused on social media of being insensitive to the plight of residents. Provincial government spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, says Lesufi acknowledges his words might have been misinterpreted:

Moving abroad:

# The Republican-led House of Representatives passed a resolution to rescind president Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada. The resolution passed 219 to 211, with six Republicans voting with all Democrats, except Jared Golden of Maine, who voted against it. Trump recently threatened to impose a 100-percent tariff on goods imported from Canada over the country’s proposed trade deal with China. The resolution will now head to the Senate, where even if it is passed will unlikely be signed into law by Trump.

# Soccer: The Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at Johannesburg’s FNB stadium will be a sold-out affair. All tickets for the highly anticipated encounter were snatched up in record time both online and at retail outlets, while lots of supporters had been left empty-handed. The organisers advised fans without tickets not to turn up at the venue on the 28th as security will be at high alert. The lucky ones who secured tickets are asked to arrive early to enjoy the entertainment.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-90-cents and the euro at 18-rand-87-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-66-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-50-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-and-59-dollars-54-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-12-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….