News 14:00

BULLETIN 13 February 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Police in Gauteng are barred from Wiandré Pretorius’s memorial drive in Boksburg
# Ramaphosa emphasises the deployment of soldiers in the Western Cape doesn’t reflect police failures
# And cricket: Zimbabwe stuns the mighty Australia in the T20 World Cup

# Gauteng police have been instructed not to attend tonight’s memorial drive for former police reservist Wiandré Pretorius in Boksburg. He took his own life on Saturday, days after an attempt on his life. Pretorius was a person of interest in an Independent Police Investigative Directorate probe into the 2022 murder of businessman Emmanuel Mbhense and the assassination of Madlanga commission witness Marius van der Merwe, known as Witness D. An official directive barred all police members from participating.

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the deployment of the South African National Defence Force in the Western Cape does not signal failure by the South African Police Service. He announced the deployment in his state of the nation address yesterday. Speaking at the post-SONA in Cape Town, Ramaphosa praised the police’s anti-gang operations, and emphasised soldiers will provide added support as government intensifies efforts to eliminate persistent gang violence:

Meanwhile, the Forum for South Africa is calling on Ramaphosa to state a timeframe for the Defence Force’s deployment in the Western Cape and Gauteng. The soldiers will help the police in communities under siege from gangsters and illegal mining activities in the two provinces. FOSA leader Tebogo Mashilompane says this deployment is a reflection of a government that has failed to strengthen and capacitate its policing structures:

# The Zimbabwean Revenue Authority recovered over 800 bottles of South African medicine that were seized by Zimbabwean authorities at the Beitbridge border post. This is after an illegal Zimbabwean national crossed into the country. Law enforcement intercepted the shipment, preventing the unauthorised import of the medical products. Authorities are investigating the case, highlighting ongoing efforts to curb illegal cross-border trade, and ensure compliance with health and customs regulations.

# Cricket: Unsung Zimbabwe stunned the mighty Australia by beating them by 23 runs in their T20 World Cup group match in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The African team posted a defendable 169 for two, spearheaded by Brian Bennett’s undefeated 64. Australia’s first wicket fell with just 13 on the board, and another three batters departed by the time they reached 29. Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw fought back with a 77-run fifth-wicket partnership, but Australia was bowled out for 146 after Blessing Muzarabani took four wickets.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-3-cents and the euro at 19-rand-1-cent. One British pound costs 21-rand-84-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-759-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-971-dollars-76-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-29-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….