News 13:00

BULLETIN 25 February 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Critically injured SANDF soldiers are successfully repatriated from the DRC
# The final batch of over two-thousand trainees joins police academies
# And rugby: The Bok and Stormers prop Steven Kitshoff announces his retirement

# The South African National Defence Force has confirmed that a group of critically injured soldiers, who need urgent medical attention, have been successfully repatriated from the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The soldiers were injured during fighting with Rwandan-backed M23 rebels. SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini says the other injured soldiers being repatriated are scheduled to arrive in South Africa during this week:

# The South African Police Service has completed its 2024/’25 recruitment process, fulfilling its commitment to recruit 30-thousand members over three years. The final group of two-thousand-186 trainees has arrived at police academies nationwide. Police spokesperson Amanda van Wyk has dismissed social media claims of a third batch, confirming that the recruitment process is officially closed:

# Global chemicals and energy company Sasol says it is making significant changes to its emission reduction roadmap. However, the roadmap still aims for a 30-percent greenhouse gas emission reduction by 2030. Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi says they have ditched plans to use liquid natural gas to reduce reliance on coal at its Secunda facility in Mpumalanga. The plant is the largest single-point emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. Baloyi says they are not planning to turn down Secunda’s production volumes until the natural gas supply runs dry in 2034. 

# Rugby: Springbok and Stormers prop Steven Kitshoff was forced to announce his retirement due to a serious neck injury. Doctors advised him it would be highly dangerous to continue playing. The 33-year-old played 83 Tests for South Africa, winning two World Cups, a British and Irish Lions series and a Rugby Championship. He also played 138 games for the Stormers. Kitshoff says the game has been his life from a young age, and he was lucky enough to live the dream of many young boys.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-37-cents and the euro at 19-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-20-cents and Bitcoin trades at 89-thousand-256-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-940-dollars-79-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-41-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Waterfall City in Gauteng has won the Best International Masterplan award at the International Property Awards in London. This marks the region’s first victory in the category, which recognises large-scale urban developments. Waterfall City also secured the title of Best Masterplan Africa 2024-2025. CEO Willie Vos hailed the achievement as a testament to innovation and excellence, adding that the awards highlight Africa’s growing role in global urban development.

Stay tuned for more news………….