News 13:00

BULLETIN 20 February 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Limpopo’s executive council will support the families of fallen SANDF soldiers during their funerals
# Cosatu welcomes the budget delay and opposes the proposed VAT hike
# And golf: Cape Town has established itself as a premier golf destination

# Limpopo premier Phophi Ramathuba will lead the provincial executive council in providing support to the families of fallen South African National Defence Force soldiers, during their funerals this weekend. Fourteen soldiers were killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo during clashes with M3 rebels last month. Provincial government’s spokesperson, Ndavhe Ramakuela, says funeral services have been organised in several towns:

# Cosatu has welcomed the postponement of the budget speech, calling it a victory against the proposed two-percent value-added tax hike. The union federation’s Matthew Parks says the delay avoids a potential constitutional crisis, urging the government to boost tax compliance instead of increasing VAT. He emphasises that engagement with government officials will continue to ensure a fair budget that funds services, stimulates growth, and protects vulnerable citizens:

# Transnet has announced a plan to ramp up operations at Cape Town Container Terminal in an effort to counter strong winds that have disrupted the peak fruit export season. Winds of up to 120-kilometres per hour have reportedly caused over 200-hours of lost operations, leaving 12 vessels at anchor. Transnet says it is deploying workers who are off duty or on leave, to clear the backlog of shipments. The terminal is in the peak of its deciduous fruit season, which runs from November to March.

# Golf: The City of Cape Town says it is delighted to welcome and host the participants of the Ladies Open. The tournament teed off at the Durbanville Golf Club this morning, featuring over 100 professional and amateur players from over 30 countries. Mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says Cape Town’s Cara Gorlei will be looking for her first victory in front of her home crowd:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-50-cents and the euro at 19-rand-30-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-33-cents and Bitcoin trades at 98-thousand-178-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-953-dollars-92-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-60-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A cat defied the odds by surviving a two-month ordeal in the American wilderness and travelling nearly one-thousand-500 kilometres to reunite with his owners. Rayne Beau went missing during a family trip to Yellowstone National Park. His owners immediately launched a search effort, but lost hope after weeks without any sign of him. Two months later he was discovered wandering near Redding in California. He was finally returned home when a Good Samaritan took him to a shelter where his microchip traced him back to his family.

Stay tuned for more news………….