News 13:00

BULLETIN 20 February 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Cape Town Magistrate’s Court approves the extradition of alleged syndicate members
# The DA says the inhumane conditions on the Al Kuwait live export vessel are unacceptable
# And Rugby: All Black Will Jordan will miss the whole of the Super Rugby competition 

# The Cape Town Magistrate’s Court has found alleged members of the Black Axe syndicate liable for extradition to the United States. The National Prosecuting Authority’s Western Cape spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, says the court ruled there was sufficient evidence to warrant the prosecution of the seven men for allegedly extorting money from victims through fabricated online personas. He says they allegedly purported to be engineers and managers working on a project in South Africa:

# The distressing conditions endured by the 19-thousand cattle on board the Al Kuwait live export vessel docked at the Cape Town Harbour is deeply concerning. The ship had been at sea for the past eight days and was travelling from Brazil when it made an emergency landing at the harbour. The National Council of SPCAs is assessing the welfare of the animals. The DA’s, Noko Masipa, says live export, as evidenced by this situation, exposes animals to perilous conditions:

# Bus company Putco condemns metalworkers’ union Numsa for urging the public to boycott its services, labelling it irresponsible. This follows Putco’s amendment of suspension conditions to expedite an inquiry involving 85 union members for an illegal strike in September 2022. The company, operating in Gauteng, Limpopo and parts of Mpumalanga, urges the public to disregard the call, citing potential harm to workers’ livelihoods. Numsa is accused of employing delaying tactics. Putco’s spokesperson Lindokuhle Xulu reassures commuters of their commitment to uninterrupted service:

# Rugby: The Crusaders’ All Black back player, Will Jordan, will miss the whole of this year’s Super Rugby competition. He has to undergo a shoulder operation that will take him out of action for up to six months. He scored 31 tries in his 31 Tests for New Zealand, and dotted down a record eight times in last year’s World Cup in France. The Crusaders, the defending champions, have already lost Welsh full-back Leigh Halfpenny for up to four months with a torn pectoral muscle.

# And finally: The non-profit organisation GirlCode is preparing for its tenth annual Hackathon under the theme Empowering Change Across Africa. CEO Zandile Mkwanazi has emphasised the technology empowerment initiative’s impact across ten African cities, highlighting its role in reducing unemployment rates through future-focused opportunities for women. Mkwanazi says the power of technology in shaping a sustainable future and contributing to positive change across the continent, while also encouraging female participation in a male-dominated field, is important.

Stay tuned for more news………….