News 13:00

BULLETIN 6 February 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Madlanga commission postpones Suleiman Carrim’s testimony to March
# Experts warn of environmental risks at the Lily mine
# And rugby: Ireland’s coach questions his team’s fight and intensity against France

# The Madlanga commission has postponed ANC-linked businessman Suleiman Carrim’s testimony to 9 and 10 March. He was due to testify today after the High Court in Pretoria dismissed his bid to block a subpoena, criticising his delayed application. He has been implicated in alleged kickbacks linked to a 360-million-rand police tender. Chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga ordered Carrim’s legal team to submit a statement early next month:

# Mining experts have raised the alarm over the collapsed Lily gold mine near Barberton in Mpumalanga. Lions Bay Resources CEO Lloyd Birrell warns underground flooding could drastically change water chemistry, becoming highly acidic or alkaline and dissolving harmful metals like arsenic and manganese. He says it affects local communities, leaving them without safe drinking water. Birrell stresses any plans to reopen the mine must first address these significant environmental risks to prevent further harm to people, agriculture, and ecosystems downstream.

# Cosatu has welcomed the extension of America’s African Growth and Opportunities Act, saying this provides certainty to key South African export industries and comfort for workers’ jobs. AGOA, which was established in 2000, exempts eligible African countries from taxes on their exports to the US. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says South Africa’s exit from AGOA would not only be a devastating blow to local jobs but also throughout the region:

# Volkswagen Group Africa managing director Martina Biene has asked president Cyril Ramaphosa for concise decision-making on policies to help safeguard the embattled local automotive manufacturing industry from imploding. Speaking at Volkswagen’s annual product indaba in Kariega in the Eastern Cape, Biene said while increasing imports from China and India and the US import tax increases are contributing factors, she remains confident urgent improvement in manufacturing policies can help them weather the storm. She says the policy framework should allow for more competitive production of new energy vehicles.

# Rugby: Ireland’s head coach, Andy Farrell, has questioned his side’s fight against defending champions France in their Six Nations opener in Paris. Ireland began their campaign with a resounding 36-14 defeat. Farrell points out the lack of intensity in the first half, missed tackles, and not winning the scraps on the floor or the contests in the air, saying no team can win a Test with that approach:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-16-cents and the euro at 19-rand-6-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-94-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-360-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-856-dollars-62-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-42-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….