News 13:00

BULLETIN 5 February 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA says Gauteng Health defies the Public Service Commission on irregular appointments
# The South African Wind Energy Association says the draft I-R-P 2023 needs an intense review
# And Cricket: A tough grind for the Proteas in New Zealand 

# The DA in Gauteng says the Public Service Commission has investigated 13 irregular staff appointments in the provincial Department of Health in the past three years, but the department has not implemented the commission’s recommendations in nine of the cases. This was revealed by MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, in a written reply to the party’s questions in the legislature. The DA’s Jack Bloom says the commission found irregularities at the George Mukhari Hospital in Ga-Rankuwa, Tshwane:

# The South African Wind Energy Association says the country’s current energy crisis requires swift action through a clear, comprehensive and realistic implementation plan. This comes as the country’s revised draft Integrated Resource Plan 2023 has been released for public comment. The plan presents an analysis of broad options at the disposal of the country to meet three distinct aspirations, namely security of supply, energy affordability, and carbon emissions reductions. The association says the draft I-R-P 2023 requires a lot of intense review, transparency and creative resolve.

# The City of Cape Town says statistics between October last year and January this year, point to one of the busiest periods for the City’s Fire and Rescue Service in the last four years. During this period 13-thousand-and-87 incidents were responded to, of which 55-percent were vegetation fires. Mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says year-on-year there was a 12-percent increase in overall incidents, including fires, rescues and other special service calls like car accidents:

# Cricket: It has been another tough day of Test cricket for the Proteas in New Zealand. Rachin Ravindra scored an incredible 240 runs for his maiden double-century, as the Black Caps were eventually bowled out for 511 towards the end of day two. South African captain Neil Brand claimed six wickets with his spin bowling. In reply, the Proteas reached 80 for four at stumps, with David Bedingham unbeaten on 29 as the Proteas trail by 431 runs with six wickets remaining. Brand says it has been a tough grind:

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-97-cents and the euro at 20-rand-41-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-92-cents and Bitcoin trades at 42-thousand-972-dollars-88-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-21-dollars-68-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-94-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Taylor Swift won Album of the Year for Midnights at the 66th Grammy Awards, making her the first performer ever to win the award four times. She also walked away with the Best Pop Vocal Album award. S-Z-A, who was the leading nominee with nine nods, won two including Best R-and-B Song for Snooza. Miley Cyrus scored her first pair of Grammys winning Best Pop Solo Performance and Record of the Year for Flowers. Billie Eilish won Song of the Year for her Barbie soundtrack hit What Was I Made For.

Stay tuned for more news………….