News 11:00

BULLETIN 13 February 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Freedom Front Plus says Ramaphosa is out of touch with reality
# Gauteng Education will appoint an independent law firm to probe the death of a Grade R learner
# And rugby: A much-changed Ireland side is announced for the Six Nations clash against Italy

# The Freedom Front Plus has accused president Cyril Ramaphosa of being out of touch with reality, saying the truth is that South Africa’s economy and society are in a deep crisis. In his state of the nation address, Ramaphosa highlighted the country’s economic gains, while acknowledging the challenges of unemployment, crime and the worsening water crisis. The FF Plus says boasting about isolated matters such as credit ratings, debt reduction, a short-lived improvement in power supply and the strength of the rand, is misleading and denying reality.

Meanwhile, Build One South Africa’s leader, Mmusi Maimane, says the address was an election campaign speech filled with recycled commitments and vague promises. He says Ramaphosa spoke from the comfort of an elite bubble while millions of citizens live the real experiences of this country, including joblessness and crime. Maimane says South Africans need a plan equal to the scale of the crises confronting the nation:

# The Gauteng Education Department is finalising the appointment of a law firm to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a Grade R learner from Bernard Isaacs Primary School in Coronationville, Johannesburg. The boy died in hospital earlier this month after sustaining injuries on the school premises. The department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, says MEC Matome Chiloane will visit the child’s family today:

Moving abroad:

# US president Donald Trump has reversed the 2009 climate endangerment finding introduced under former president Barack Obama. The Environmental Protection Agency found that six greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, pose a threat to public health. Environmental groups say the move is by far the most significant rollback on climate change. Trump has called the move the single largest deregulatory action in American history:

# Rugby: Ireland’s head coach, Andy Farrell, has made six changes for their Six Nations clash against Italy in Dublin tomorrow, as they look to bounce back from the 36-14 defeat against France. Ulster duo Robert Baloucoune and Cormac Izuchukwu will make their Six Nations debuts. There is a recall for wing James Lowe with Craig Casey named at scrumhalf. James Ryan partners with Joe McCarthy in the second row, while Edwin Edogbo is set to make his international debut after being named on the bench.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-2-cents and the euro at 18-rand-99-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-79-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-346-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-965-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-5-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….