News 13:00

BULLETIN 18 February 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Justice still eludes the Ndlovu and Mdhluli families after 14 court postponements
# Motorists brace for fuel price hikes in March
# And cricket: An easy victory for the Proteas over the United Arab Emirates in Delhi

# One year after the brutal killing of journalist Aserie Ndlovu and his partner, Zodwa Mdhluli, in Mpumalanga, their families are still awaiting justice. Their remains were found in Limpopo in May after they disappeared in February. The case has been postponed 14 times at the KwaMhlanga Magistrates’ Court in Mpumalanga. Africa Media and Communications Forum’s Palesa Magolego says the delays deepen the families’ pain:

# South African motorists should prepare for higher fuel prices in March. Although the Central Energy Fund’s latest data shows petrol prices may rise by just one-cent per litre for 93-octane and two-cents for 95-octane, diesel prices could jump by up to 47-cents per litre. The fund attributes the increases to rising international product prices, with Brent crude oil trading over 67-dollar a barrel. The new prices will take effect on March 4.

# ActionSA says it categorically distances itself from Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza’s statement on changes to his mayoral committee. The reshuffle sees ActionSA’s mayoral candidate, Xolani Khumalo, being appointed as member for Community Services and By-Law Enforcement. ActionSA’s Michael Beaumont says the party will not lend credibility to an administration that has overseen the lawlessness and deterioration of service delivery:

Moving abroad: 

# US special envoy Steve Witkoff says the latest round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Geneva, Switzerland, has yielded meaningful progress. Discussions focus mainly on the issue of territory, as the Kremlin has not wavered from its demand that Kyiv cede the remaining 20-percent of the eastern region of Donetsk that Moscow has failed to capture. Ukraine has refused. Witkoff says he is proud to work under president Donald Trump’s leadership to stop the killing in this terrible conflict.

# Cricket: South Africa easily defeated the United Arab Emirates by six wickets in their T20 World Cup group match in Delhi. Dewald Brevis’ contributed 36 and the Proteas reached the under-par target of 123 within 14 overs. The UAE was earlier restricted to 122 for six, Alishan Sharafu top-scoring with 45. Corbin Bosch took three wickets and conceded just 16 runs in his four overs. Undefeated South Africa had already qualified for the Super Eights even before this match, and next faces co-hosts India in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-99-cents and the euro at 18-rand-92-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-70-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-185-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-916-dollars-36-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-10-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….