News 14:00

BULLETIN 6 February 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Dali Mpofu argues that Jacob Zuma’s trial evidence is at risk of being undermined
# Several roads are already closed in Cape Town due to tonight’s state of the nation address
# And American football: Donald Trump will become the first sitting US president to attend the Super Bowl

# Advocate Dali Mpofu has accused state prosecutor Billy Downer of knowing about leaks within the National Prosecuting Authority but failing to act. Former president Jacob Zuma’s arms deal corruption case returned to the High Court in Pietermaritzburg today, where his legal team is appealing Judge Nkosinathi Chili’s refusal to remove Downer. Zuma alleges prosecutorial bias and claims Downer leaked his health records. Mpofu argues Zuma’s evidence in the trial is at risk of being undermined.

# The City of Cape Town is reminding the public to make arrangements where possible to mitigate the impact of the elevated traffic volumes expected later today due to the state of the nation address. A number of roads are already closed, and further closures will follow later in the day. Mayoral committee member for Safety and Security JP Smith is urging road users to avoid non-essential travel into the CBD and surrounds:

# The Church of England’s Pensions Board urges investors to support peace efforts in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The board urged global investors to consider the impact of the ongoing conflict in the region, which has resulted in significant loss of life and a growing humanitarian crisis. The board’s Adam Matthews highlights that mining and natural resources fuel the conflict, urging investors to act responsibly to prevent further harm and support peace and stability:

# A fresh series of quakes hit the Greek tourism island of Santorini, part of an unprecedented seismic wave that has baffled scientists and led to a mass exodus of residents. Seven successive tremors measuring over 4.0 magnitude were recorded in the early morning. This was after a 5.2 quake, the strongest so far since the weekend, was recorded yesterday evening. Experts have so far been unable to give a definitive estimate on when the seismic activity will end, but stress that it is unprecedented.

# American football: Donald Trump will become the first sitting US president to attend the Super Bowl on Sunday. The final of the league championship will be played between Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Fourteen people were killed in a terror attack in Bourbon Street in the city on New Year’s Day and the Secret Service says security measures have been further enhanced because of Trump’s presence. The Super Bowl is described as the US’ biggest security event.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-59-cents and the euro at 19-rand-26-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-11-cents and Bitcoin trades at 98-thousand-843-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-857-dollars-96-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-93-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….