News 12:00

BULLETIN 18 February 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A nine-month old baby and two women are shot dead in Athlone
# Motorists brace for a fuel price hike in March
# And cricket: A Pakistani spinner still believes they will reach the Super Eights

# Cape Town police have confirmed a nine-month-old baby and two women aged 25 and 36 were shot dead in Athlone last night. Two men are in hospital. Police spokesperson André Traut says the motive for the attack remains unknown. Available resources have been mobilised to assist detectives attached to the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit who are working around the clock to identify and arrest three unknown suspects, who fled the scene. Traut appeals to people with any information to contact their nearest police station. 

# South African motorists should prepare for higher fuel prices in March. Although the Central Energy Fund’s latest data shows petrol prices may rise by just one-cent per litre for 93-octane and two-cents for 95-octane, diesel prices could jump by up to 47-cents per litre. The fund attributes the increases to rising international product prices, with Brent crude oil trading over 67-dollar a barrel. The new prices will take effect on March 4.

# The postal workers’ unions DEPACU and SAPWU are seeking clarity from minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, over reports concerning the South African Post Office. Government reportedly promised SAPO a 3.8-billion-rand bailout. DEPACU general secretary Kodisang Bokaba says this is the same commitment made by then minister Mondli Gungubele in his affidavit before the High Court in Pretoria, which led the court ordering SAPO be placed under business rescue:

Moving abroad:

# Ten skiers are missing and another six are stranded in an avalanche that struck a backcountry slope near California’s Lake Tahoe region. The four guides and 12 clients were on the last day of a three-day skiing trip yesterday when the avalanche hit. Nevada County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Russell Greene says the six known survivors have been directed to shelter as best they can in the dangerous conditions:

# Cricket: Pakistani spinner Usman Tariq believes they can still qualify for the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup after losing by 61-runs to neighbours India on Sunday. That followed victories over the Netherlands and the USA. Pakistan needs to beat Namibia in Colombo today. India is currently first in Group A and had already qualified, with the USA second with a better run-rate than Pakistan.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-96-cents and the euro at 18-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-66-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-285-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-925-dollars-33-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-31-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….