News 13:00

BULLETIN 3 February 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Deputy president Mashatile visits several voting districts in Gauteng
# For the first time, the DA outperforms the ANC in new registrations
# Soccer: South Africans are routing for Bafana in Afcon quarterfinals tonight

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile is visiting several voting districts in Gauteng, including his own in Kelvin, Johannesburg, today. He is urging all eligible voters to register or confirm their registration with the Independent Electoral Commission ahead of the elections. The IEC has indicated its readiness to welcome eligible South Africans at 23-thousand-303 registration stations across the country. Registration stations are operational until 5pm today and tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the DA says for the first time in South Africa, it has outperformed the ANC in new voter registrations and re-registrations. The DA’s Greg Krumbock says the most recent registration data highlights the party’s success in securing the largest share of new and re-registrations. Between 23 November last year and 5 January, the IEC recorded 162-thousand-598 new and re-registrations. Thirty-seven-percent were for the DA, and only 33.8-percent for the ANC:

# Two foreign nationals, aged 47 and 54, have been arrested in Hillbrow for alleged fraud after they were found practising as health professionals while not being registered with the council in terms of the Health Professions Act. Johannesburg Metro Police officers received information yesterday that the suspects issued medical certificates and conducted backstreet abortions. JMPD spokesperson, Xolani Fihla, says officers followed up and monitored people going in and out of the building:

# The US military has launched air strikes in Iraq and Syria against more than 85 targets linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and the militias it backs. This is in retaliation for last weekend’s attack in Jordan that killed three US troops. The strikes included the use of long-range B-1 bombers flown from the US. More US military operations are expected in the coming days. President Joe Biden says the country’s response will continue at times and places of their choosing.

# And, soccer: The whole of South Africa’s hopes are on Bafana Bafana when they take on Cape Verde in the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nation in Ivory Coast tonight. The team surprised by eliminating the best team on the continent, Morocco, in the round of 16. Last night, Nigeria qualified for the semi-finals after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Angola. And DR Congo came from behind to beat Guinea 3-1 and book their semi-final spot. In today’s other quarterfinal, Mali plays the host nation.

Stay tuned for more news………….