News 17:00

BULLETIN 24 February 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Brown Mogotsi reiterates allegations that Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi is a CIA agent
# GIWUSA calls for greater funding of South Africa’s education system
# And cricket: India realises they need two big performances to advance in the T20 World Cup

# North West businessman Brown Mogotsi has repeated claims that KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has links to the Central Intelligence Agency. Speaking during cross-examination before Parliament’s ad hoc committee, Mogotsi says he was tasked to probe the matter based on concerns raised. He cited comments by Mkhwanazi about training in the United States as part of his suspicions:

# The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa is calling on minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana to prioritise funding for the Basic Education and Higher Education and Training Departments in this year’s budget allocations. GIWUSA president Mametlwe Sebei says South Africa’s education system is in a state of crisis that demands urgent and massive public investment. states that tertiary education needs special attention:

# The ACDP has criticised the Gauteng government for holding the State of the Province Address at the Nasrec Expo Centre yesterday, amid unpaid bills. The party’s Palesa Yates says the City of Ekurhuleni is owed over 123-million-rand by provincial government departments. The provincial government booked two halls, one for premier Panyaza Lesufi’s address and the other as a dedicated dining hall. Yates says Lesufi’s government should be prioritising essential services over extravagant events:

# Authorities in Thailand are investigating the deaths of dozens of tigers at a popular tourist attraction. Seventy-two tigers died in the span of less than two weeks across two facilities of Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai, where visitors can touch and interact with the big cats. The local livestock department says samples from the animals showed the highly contagious canine distemper virus. The virus attacks the host’s respiratory, gastro-intestinal and nervous systems. It is typically found among dogs but can also infect big cats.

# Cricket: India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, says they realise they need two big performances in their remaining Super Eight matches of the T20 World Cup. This follows the hosts’ crushing defeat to South Africa on Sunday. The Proteas won by 76 runs after bowling the defending champion out for just 111, leaving India with a negative net run-rate. They play Zimbabwe and the West Indies next. Ten Doeschate says they don’t panic yet, but hinted at potential changes to the batting line-up.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-1-cent and the euro at 18-rand-85-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-58-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-57-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-158-dollars-10-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-58-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….