News 16:00

BULLETIN 23 February 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa proclaims 29 May as the election date
# Cadre deployment manipulates appointments of senior people in various state institutions
# And Cricket: Australia clinches the T20 series against New Zealand

# South Africans have until midnight to register to vote in the upcoming elections after president Cyril Ramaphosa officially proclaimed 29 May as the election date. News24 reports the Independent Electoral Commission’s deputy CEO, Mawethu Mosery, outlined the process leading up to the election, including the closure of the voters’ roll after the proclamation is published. The final election timetable will be presented to political parties after a committee meeting this weekend and is expected to be gazetted and published early next week. There are currently 27.6-million voters on the voters’ roll.

Meanwhile, the uMkhonto we Sizwe party has enlisted top legal experts, including Advocate Dali Mpofu and Muzi Sikhakane, to defend its name and logo against the ANC. The ruling party is challenging the registration of the MK party, alleging ulterior motives behind its formation. They approached the Electoral Court to stop the MK Party from contesting the elections in colours mirroring its history and logo. News24 reports former national director of Public Prosecutions, Nomgcobo Jiba, will also join the MK legal team in the court battle scheduled in Bloemfontein for 19 March.

# DA national spokesperson for Public Service and Administration, Leon Schreiber, has revealed the impact of ANC’s Cadre Deployment Policy. This includes the ANC controlling the demand and supply side of senior administrative roles in boards, state owned enterprises and independent state institutions. The one-thousand-300-page document highlights the readiness of loyal ANC cadres to assume powerful positions, with applications submitted to the deployment committee at Luthuli House, influencing  key appointments:

# The City of Tshwane says it is ensuring that all the communities affected by the recent storms are receiving the help they need. The metro was battered by severe weather and thunderstorms last weekend. The city’s emergency services were called out to over 25 storm-related incidents. Around 40 shacks were blown away in Kekana Gardens informal settlement, Hammanskraal. Mayoral committee member for Community Safety, Grandi Theunissen, says the Emergency Services Department response teams are working tirelessly to restore normalcy:

# Cricket: Australia cruised to a 72-run victory in the second T20 against New Zealand in Auckland. The visitors were dismissed for 174, with Travis Head top-scoring with 45. Lockie Ferguson took four wickets. But the mediocre target proved too much for the hosts, who started losing wickets immediately and was bowled out for 102 runs within 17 overs. Adam Zampa claimed four scalps. Australia has now clinched the series after also winning the first match. The final one will be played on Sunday.

Stay tuned for more news………….