News 16:00

BULLETIN 24 February 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The South African National Defence Force urges funding support to build a strong military force
# Load-shedding and the proposed VAT hike may cost the ANC in next year’s local government elections
# And cricket: A Pakistani batter realises the hosts have to improve in every facet after a second loss in the Champions Trophy

# The South African National Defence Force’s surgeon general, Lieutenant General Ntshavheni Maphaha, has appealed for funding support. He spoke at the funeral of staff sergeant Ishmael Molahlehi in Thaba Nchu. He was one of 14 soldiers who died in the Democratic Republic of Congo recently. Maphaha urged politicians to decide between a strong military or a weak one. He says soldiers like Molahlehi remain dedicated to peacekeeping efforts:

# Political experts have warned that the ANC could face voter backlash in next year’s local governement elections due to the proposed two-percent VAT hike and the return of load-shedding. Speaking to Citizen, political analyst Pule Monama calls the proposed VAT increase a self-inflicted act, while Lesiba Teffo says it will influence voters’ decisions in 2026. Analysts suggest a one-percent increase with expanded zero-rated goods. They say the ANC faces growing discontent, with local communities expressing frustration over governance and economic hardships.

# United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has warned that human rights were being suffocated globally, including by wars and violence as well as autocrats crushing opposition and trampling on international law. He told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that human rights are being suffocated by autocrats, crushing opposition because they fear what a truly empowered people would do. He says warmongers thumb their nose at international law, international humanitarian law and the UN Charter, while wars and violence were stripping people of their right to food, water and education.

# Cricket: Pakistani batter Saud Shakeel acknowledges they have to improve in every facet of their game. They lost by six wickets to arch-rivals India in Dubai yesterday, handing the hosts their second loss of the Champions Trophy and placing them on the verge of being eliminated. Shakeel top-scored with 62, but Pakistan was bowled out for just 241 and India reached the target in their 43rd over. Pakistan needs Bangladesh to beat New Zealand today to have any chance of reaching the semifinals.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-34-cents and the euro at 19-rand-20-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-791-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-946-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-3-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Cape Town Metro Police’s K9 Unit has welcomed ten new four-legged recruits, all Belgian Malinois, bringing the overall number of dogs to 20. The new group is currently undergoing their basic training. Mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says four will qualify as copper and narcotic detection dogs, four will conduct general patrol duties and help apprehend suspects, while two others will search for missing persons:

Stay tuned for more news………….