News 13:00

BULLETIN 17 February 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Five miners are trapped underground after a mud rush at Kimberley’s Ekapa Mine
# Shadrack Sibiya is to appear at the Madlanga commission on Wednesday
# And cricket: Australia needs big favours from Ireland and Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup

# Ekapa Mine in Kimberly in the Northern Cape has confirmed a mud rush which left five miners trapped underground. The company says in a statement mining operations have been halted as search and rescue efforts continue. The Department of Mineral Resources and families of the miners have been notified, and support measures are in place. Management says further updates will be provided as teams work to locate the missing workers.

# Suspended deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya is expected to appear before the Madlanga commission tomorrow. Proceedings were postponed yesterday after Witness F was hospitalised. Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson says the earliest new date for testimony is 16 March, the commission’s final scheduled day. Witnesses F has linked Sibiya to controversial businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala. It has also been alleged that Sibiya threatened individuals who reported rogue officers in Gauteng.

Moving abroad:

# Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the Donald Trump administration’s handling of Ukraine has been disgraceful, along with its failure to uphold alliances with the West. Trump recently accused Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky of holding up efforts to end the war with Russia. Clinton says Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin’s efforts to profit off the misery and death of the Ukrainian people is a historic error:

# Cricket: Australia is dependent on Ireland and Sri Lanka to save them at the T20 World Cup after losing two of its first three matches. The Aussies, long regarded as a heavyweight in the sport, first lost to world number 11, Zimbabwe, before succumbing to co-hosts Sri Lanka in Kandy yesterday. They need Ireland to beat Zimbabwe today, and Sri Lanka to knock out the African team on Thursday, to reach the Super Eight stage. Australia’s final group match is against Oman on Friday.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-2-cents and the euro at 18-rand-98-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-78-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-977-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-920-dollars-51-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-65-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Santa Shoebox Project, which is celebrating its 20th birthday this year, is looking for volunteers to help share the joy in their local communities. CEO Deb Zelezniak says over the last 20 years, more than 1.35 million Santa Shoeboxes, containing specified items, have been given to underprivileged children across the country. She adds volunteers are a big part of the work they do:

Stay tuned for more news………..