News 13:00

BULLETIN 12 February 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The City of Tshwane warns its water distribution network is collapsing
# AfriForum monitors Air Force sergeant Michael Swanton’s murder case
# And Olympics: Hosts Italy clinches gold in men’s and women’s luge doubles

# The City of Tshwane is warning its water distribution network is near collapse, with residents urged to reduce consumption. It says the network is under severe strain as the inflow from Rand Water is persisting at a low level, which has been exacerbated by high consumption. Spokesperson Selby Bokaba says the exceedingly high consumption has adversely impacted the main receiving reservoirs in regions 1, 3 and 4:

# AfriForum is closely monitoring the murder case of Air Force Sergeant Michael Swanton amid concerns over the political connections of the accused. He was shot and killed in the Madibeng municipality in North West last month. Two VIP protection officials linked to the mayor, Douglas Maimane, face charges and have been granted bail. AfriForum’s Jacques Broodryk says they will oversee proceedings to guard against potential interference and ensure transparency.

# SANParks says new visitor verification processes have commenced at the Table Mountain national park in Cape Town. Digital identity card scanning is now being used at Cape Point and the Boulders penguin colony to ensure correct pricing for discounted rates. SANParks spokesperson JP Louw says indemnity forms are no longer required for general day visitors, but still apply at selected picnic and braai areas:

Moving abroad:

# European Union leaders are due to hold frank discussions in Belgium today on how to ensure the bloc is not left behind the US and China economically, or squeezed by tariffs and export curbs by its global rivals. The bloc is contending with US president Donald Trump’s trade war and Chinese restrictions on exports of critical minerals. EU growth has persistently lagged that of the two super powers. European Council president, Antonio Costa, will host the leaders at the 16th-century Alden Biesen castle, in eastern Belgium.

# Olympics: Host country Italy is ecstatic after both its men and women won gold medals in the doubles luge sledge event at the Milano Cortina Winter Games. Andrea Voetter and Marion Oberhofer first became the women’s doubles champions, ending Germany’s iron grip on women’s luge. They are the first Italian women to clinch gold in the event since Gerda Weissensteiner won the singles in 1994. Then Emanuel Rieder and Simon Kainzwaldner won the men’s division after the United States made a late mistake.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-92-cents and the euro at 18-rand-92-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-73-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-208-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-and-73-dollars-26-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-74-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….