News 16:00

BULLETIN 28 February 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC received the most donations of all the political parties from October to December
# China’s leadership meets on how to counter Trump’s trade threats and tariffs
# And rugby: Garry Ringrose will miss Ireland’s Six Nations match against France after a three-match ban

# The ANC has declared the most donations received by political parties from October to December last year. The Electoral Commission says the party declared donations of almost 13-million rand out of a total of 18.4-million received by all parties. Patrice Motsepe’s Botho Botho Commercial Enterprises donated ten-million-rand. A non-profit company that has worked on democracy and development in South Africa since 1992, the Education and Training Unit, paid almost one-million-rand for accommodation and training of ANC members in November. The DA declared donations of 4.3-million-rand.

# Public Works and Infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson has wrapped up a seven-day visit to the Middle East, securing investment interest in South Africa’s infrastructure sector. Macpherson emphasised the visit’s role in attracting 100-billion-rand in private sector investment. The minister says that he now aims to turn discussions into tangible results, strengthening ties and accelerating infrastructure development to drive economic growth and job creation:

# The Campaign for Free Expression has criticised AfriForum and Solidarity for their alleged misinformation campaign against South Africa. Executive director Nicole Fritz told Newzroom Afrika these right-wing groups are actively talking down the country to the US government. The organisations have faced backlash for allegedly using false claims in their lobbying efforts. Fritz calls their actions fundamentally irresponsible and harmful to South Africa’s global standing:

# China’s leadership convenes next week to hammer out plans to shield the ailing economy from tariffs and trade threats from US president Donald Trump. The gatherings of the country’s Parliament and top advisory body are primarily talking shops, rubber-stamping decisions made by the Communist Party. But they do offer a rare glimpse into the leadership’s priorities and concerns while facing an unpredictable United States, China’s largest trading partner and strategic rival. Chinese president Xi Jinping admitted the country’s economy was facing numerous difficulties.

#  Rugby: Centre Garry Ringrose will miss Ireland’s blockbuster Six Nations match against France next weekend following his red card against Wales. He was sent off for head contact with Welsh centre Ben Thomas in Cardiff, and was given a three-match ban. Ringrose will at least miss Leinster’s United Rugby Championship clash against Cardiff and the encounter against France in Dublin, but could be free for the final Six Nations match against Italy should the ban be reduced if he completes World Rugby’s coaching intervention programme.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-45-cents and the euro at 19-rand-19-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-25-cents and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-438-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-863-dollars-37-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-60-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….