News 14:00

BULLETIN 25 February 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Charges against the former Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda are withdrawn provisionally
# The parliamentary committee on Communication engages stakeholders on the SABC’s future
# And rugby: The Bok and Stormers prop Steven Kitshoff announces his retirement

# The state has provisionally withdrawn all charges against former Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda and his co-accused, Mduduzi Zondo, in the Protea Magistrate’s Court. They faced fraud charges linked to an alleged funeral policy scam in Soweto between 2011 and 2012. Gwamanda was arrested in October last year and dismissed as mayoral committee member for Community Development in November. He welcomed the ruling, saying his arrest was politically motivated:

# The parliamentary committee on Communications and Digital Technologies and industry stakeholders say solutions must be found to ensure the public broadcaster’s long-term financial viability. Committee chairperson Khusela Sangoni emphasised to SABC News that the government is committed to stabilise the SABC while exploring solutions to secure the broadcaster’s sustainability. She also urged Treasury to come on board to assist with the financial challenges:

# The National Planning Commission, alongside government departments and the United Nations, are hosting the National State of Service Delivery Dialogue in Pretoria. The two-day event will gather officials, researchers, and community leaders to tackle the rural-urban divide in service delivery. Discussions will focus on evidence-based challenges and policy reforms to enhance basic services. Minister Maropene Ramokgopa will deliver the keynote address, highlighting strategies to strengthen state institutions and improve resource allocation.

# Rugby: Springbok and Stormers prop Steven Kitshoff was forced to announce his retirement due to a serious neck injury. Doctors advised him it would be highly dangerous to continue playing. The 33-year-old played 83 Tests for South Africa, winning two World Cups, a British and Irish Lions series and a Rugby Championship. He also played 138 games for the Stormers. Kitshoff says the game has been his life from a young age, and he was lucky enough to live the dream of many young boys.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-41-cents and the euro at 19-rand-28-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-24-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-750-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-939-dollars-19-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-27-cents a barrel.

# And finally: University of Pretoria veterinarian doctor, Liana Coetzee, says spaying remains beneficial to the overall canine population, decreasing unwanted pregnancies, and ultimately helping to lower South Africa’s dog and cat homelessness rate. Today is World Spay Day, a day to raise awareness about the importance of spaying and neutering pets, preventing overpopulation and improving animal welfare. Coetzee says an approach tailored more specifically to an individual dog may better balance the benefits and risks of spaying, especially since reproductive hormones play a key role in canine health beyond reproduction.

Stay tuned for more news………….