News 11:00

BULLETIN 15 February 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Deputy minister Andries Nel vows tougher action on crime and a strengthened Sex Offenders Register
# The Motor Industry Staff Association demands action on education, state capture and GBVF
# And soccer: CAF considers expanding AFCON to 28 teams

# Justice and Constitutional Development deputy minister Andries Nel says organised crime is the biggest threat to democracy and must be confronted decisively. Speaking in Mitchells Plain, Nel welcomed plans to deploy integrated law enforcement teams and the South African Defence Force support against gang violence. He also highlighted progress in vetting schools through the National Register for Sex Offenders, with over 16-thousand education employees screened in the Western Cape.

# Eskom has installed 319-thousand-811 smart meters nationwide, with 113-thousand-and-70 deployed on load-reduction feeders as part of its progress on key interventions. Spokesperson Daphne Mokoena says the rollout supports accurate billing and improved network stability. About 119-feeders have been removed from load-reduction, benefiting over 151-thousand customers. Mokoena however warned that resistance and safety threats have delayed 122-thousand planned installations as Eskom aims to install over 577-thousand smart meters on targeted feeders by March 2026:

# The Motor Industry Staff Association has called on government to urgently address challenges facing South Africans. Spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says limited university space is denying young people access to higher education. She also criticised slow progress in State Capture prosecutions, calling convictions insignificant without accountability. Hlubi-Majola condemned gender-based violence and femicide, warning that declaring it a national disaster means little without measurable outcomes:

# Social Development minister Sisisi Tolashe, says the introduction of biometric verification at pilot SASSA offices has saved approximately 300-million-rand. The system, operating in select centres targets fraudulent grant claims by requiring recipients to verify their identity in person. Tolashe revealed around 210-thousand individuals were wrongly accessing grants. The initiative aims to improve system security, ensure payments reach eligible beneficiaries, and will expand nationwide after the pilot phase.

# Burundi has taken over the 2026 chairmanship of the African Union at the 39th Summit in Addis Ababa. Burundi’s president Évariste Ndayishimiye succeeds Angola’s João Lourenço. Ghana’s president John Dramani Mahama was elected First Vice Chair. Ndayishimiye pledged devoted service to Africa and its diversity, and pledged unity, impartiality and stronger global advocacy for Africa:

# And, soccer: The president of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, says the Africa Cup of Nations could expand to 28 teams, with plans under discussion but no date confirmed. The tournament currently features 24 teams. He said the expansion is to modernise African soccer, improve competitiveness and enhance African soccer’s global appeal. Motsepe also reaffirmed AFCON will be held every four years after 2028. He dismissed reports that the 2027 finals will move from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and pledged stronger disciplinary measures following recent controversies.

Stay tuned for more news………….