News 16:00

BULLETIN 25 February 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Godongwana says South Africa’s debt is stabilising for the first time in 17-years
# AfriForum’s CEO will testify at the Khampepe commission
# And soccer: Fifa isn’t worried that unrest in Mexico will have a bearing on the World Cup

# Finance minister Enoch Godongwana says South Africa’s debt is stabilising for the first time in 17-years, marking a major turning point in the country’s public finances. Delivering the national budget, Godongwana said government reforms and disciplined spending have helped narrow the budget deficit and restore investor confidence. He adds debt is expected to peak at 78.9-percent of gross domestic product before gradually declining in the coming years:

# AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel is set to testify before the Khampepe commission, which investigates alleged political interference in apartheid-era prosecutions. AfriForum represents Dirk van Eck, whose wife and two children were killed in a 1985 landmine attack. Witness Cilliers van der Merwe will also testify about his father, Jaap van der Merwe’s 1978 murder near the Botswana border, which led to no prosecutions despite a known perpetrator. His body was never found. The organisation is calling for justice and accountability.

# The Wynberg Regional Court in Cape Town has sentenced Ayanda Dayi to four life terms plus 102 years for the 2024 bread truck murders in Delft. He was convicted of killing Xolani Gaji, Cebisile Mfundiso, Eric Yaphi, and Elvis Thembelani Cwethiso during a violent crime spree involving robbery and hijacking. Acting judge Mandy van Leeve described Dayi as a danger to the public who showed no remorse. Authorities say the sentence sends a strong message against violent crime.

# Social security agency SASSA in Gauteng welcomes the arrests of four suspects, including two current officials and one former official, over alleged 4.9-million-rand fraud in social grant approvals. Arrests were made by the police’s provincial investigating unit following a coordinated probe with SASSA’s Fraud and Compliance Unit. Spokesperson Lungelo Mkhaba says the suspects will appear in Soshanguve Magistrate’s Court in Tswhane, and whistleblowers are urged to report wrongdoing:

# Soccer: World governing body Fifa isn’t worried the current unrest in Mexico will have a bearing on the country co-hosting this year’s World Cup. Violence followed the Army’s killing of a drug cartel leader last weekend, including in one of the host cities, Guadalajara. Residents and tourists scurried for cover while cartel members blocked roads in several states and torched vehicles and businesses. President Claudia Sheinbaum gave the assurance visitors won’t be at risk as the situation is gradually returning to normal. The tournament starts on June 11.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-87-cents and the euro at 18-rand-70-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-45-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-745-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-186-dollars-20-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-2-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….