News 14:00

BULLETIN 20 February 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Judicial Service Commission receives a formal complaint against a corruption-accused Judge Phahlane
# Over a thousand Kenyans were recruited to fight for Russia in the Ukrainian war
# And cricket: Marizanne Kapp will miss the ODI series against Pakistan

# The Judicial Service Commission says the acting Judge President of the High Court in Pretoria, Aubrey Ledwaba, has filed a formal complaint against suspended judge Portia Phahlane. She faces corruption allegations linked to a succession matter of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. The Judicial Conduct Committee will consider submissions before deciding on further steps. Both parties have until next Friday to respond. The JSC says Phahlane will not preside over part-heard matters until the complaint process and related criminal proceedings are concluded.

# AfriForum is appearing in the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein in the Free State to defend an appeal from Eskom after the High Court in Pretoria ordered the power utility to release coal and diesel contracts under the Promotion of Access to Information Act.  Eskom argues the information is commercially sensitive. AfriForum’s Morné Mostert maintains transparency in procurement concerns, and says the public has a right to scrutinise major state contracts:

# Union federation Cosatu is urging the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition to swiftly take action and interventions to unlock the local film industry. The industry has complained the department is withholding between 600-million- and one-billion-rand due to qualifying companies in violation of court orders to pay out the money. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says the department’s envisaged national working group for the industry must include workers in the sector:

Moving abroad:

# More than one-thousand Kenyans have been recruited to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine. This is according to an intelligence report presented to Kenya’s Parliament this week. This is five times more than authorities had previously estimated. The Russian embassy in Nairobi denied allegations of recruiting Kenyans to fight in Ukraine, but says foreign citizens could voluntarily join its armed forces. The report describes a network of rogue state officials who colluded with human trafficking syndicates to recruit Kenyans to fight in Ukraine.

# Cricket: Proteas Women allrounder Marizanne Kapp will miss the one-day series against Pakistan due to illness. The 36-year-old experienced discomfort shortly after bowling in the third and final T20 against Pakistan in Benoni on Monday. Cricket South Africa says following further medical assessments, the medical team has opted to rest her as a precaution. Kapp is replaced by 18-year-old Fay Cowling, who has received her maiden call-up. The three-match ODI series begins in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-11-cents and the euro at 18-rand-95-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-70-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-205-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-and-29-dollars-54-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-88-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….