News 16:00

BULLETIN 3 February 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# John Steenhuisen is to address the media amid leadership speculation
# President Cyril Ramaphosa highlights housing as a fundamental human right
# And cricket: Bavuma believes De Kock holds the key to the Proteas success in the T20 World Cup

# There are growing reports that DA leader John Steenhuisen will not seek re-election at the party’s federal congress in April. He has confirmed he will address the media in Durban tomorrow, urging the public to avoid speculation until then. The anticipated announcement follows rising internal tensions, including a public disagreement with former member and minister Dion George. If Steenhuisen steps aside, it could reportedly open the way for Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis to run for the DA’s top post.

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says adequate housing is a basic human right, essential to dignity, security, and opportunity. Speaking at the Innovative Building Technologies Summit, Ramaphosa noted that since 1994, over five-million housing opportunities have been provided, yet 2.5-million families remain on waiting lists. He highlighted challenges including limited land, rising costs, and project delays, driving up prices for the middle class and worsening homelessness and informal settlements for the poor:

# Forum for South Africa has welcomed the decision to declare Israel’s chargé d’affaires in South Africa, Ariel Seidman, persona non grata. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation stated that Seidman’s actions have been inappropriate for a diplomat, citing, among other things, his use of social media to allegedly attack Ramaphosa. FOSA leader Tebogo Mashilompane says Israel has been undermining the country’s sovereignty, and this cannot be accepted:

# The DA in the Western Cape has welcomed CapeNature’s recovery and rehabilitation programme following the significant wildfires that swept through the Cederberg Wilderness area over the festive period. The recovery programme currently underway includes the assessment and repair of hiking trails and infrastructure, erosion control, invasive species management and long-term ecological monitoring. The DA’s Dave Bryant says these interventions are essential to ensure the reserve can recover naturally:

# Cricket: With Quinton de Kock in top form, captain Temba Bavuma believes the opening batter will be key in the Proteas’ campaign at the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Thirty-three-year-old De Kock, who will participate in the tournament for the sixth time, has shown renewed hunger for success after his career-best of 115 off 49 balls in the second T20 against the West Indies at Centurion last week. The Proteas play their first group match against Canada on Monday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-99-cents and the euro at 18-rand-86-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-178-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-898-dollars-97-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-26-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….