News 13:00

BULLETIN 8 February 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# COSATU wants to know how the government will tackle persistent high unemployment
# The Freedom Front  Plus says government’s failure leaves South Africa’s automotive industry in crisis and erodes investor confidence
# And in cricket: New-Zealand exact a five wicket victory over Afghanistan at the T20 World Cup

# COSATU is calling on president Cyril Ramaphosa to announce the government’s plans in addressing the high unemployment rate of 42.4-percent and sluggish 1-percent economic growth during the state of the nation address next Thursday. COSATU’s spokesperson Matthew Parks says Ramaphosa must also announce plans to tackle entrenched levels of poverty, including inequality and endemic crime:

# The Freedom Front Plus says the future of Volkswagen South Africa and with it more than four-thousand jobs hangs in the balance. The party says this is due to government’s ongoing failure to take decisive action by making essential policy adjustments for the automotive industry. FF Plus Jaco Mulder says Volkswagen has unequivocally stated that 2026 will be a make-or-break year for the company in South Africa:

# The Eastern Cape Department of Health has confirmed that six children from Msintsi near Berlin and one child from NU3 Mdantsane were admitted to Cecilia Makiwane Hospital yesterday with suspected food poisoning. Spokesperson Camagwini Mavovana says the children, aged between 4 and 7 years, presented with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea and dizziness. She says two children were declared dead on arrival and five others remain under medical care:

# The George Municipality in the Western Cape is positioning George as a competitive regional alternative to South Africa’s major metropolitan centres. The municipality’s spokesperson Chantel Edwards-Klose says they are inviting national and international event companies to consider the city as a preferred destination for business events, meetings and conferences, exhibitions, festivals, including sporting events, and other large-scale gatherings:

# Russia’s Federal Security Service said the man suspected of shooting top Russian military intelligence officer Vladimir Alexeyev in Moscow has been detained in Dubai and handed over to Russia. Alexeyev is the deputy head of Russia’s military intelligence arm, and was shot several times in an apartment block in Moscow on Friday. He underwent surgery after the shooting. The security service said a Russian citizen named Lyubomir Korba was detained in Dubai on suspicion of carrying out the shooting.

# And cricket: New Zealand exacted revenge for their 2024 defeat with a clinical five-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Chennai this morning. Chasing 183, the Black Caps recovered from Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s early twin-strike as Tim Seifert smashed a pivotal 65. Despite Gulbadin Naib’s explosive 63 off 35 balls for Afghanistan, New Zealand reached the target with 13 balls to spare. This crucial Group D win marks a strong tournament start for the Kiwis.

Stay tuned for more news………….