News 17:00

BULLETIN 13 February 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC’s Gauteng chairperson warns of the consequences if the party loses the elections 
# The FF Plus says the Free State forfeited more than 1,3-billion-rand in two terms under ANC rule
# And Rugby: Jacques Nienaber gives Boks’ assistant coach the thumbs-up 

# The ANC’s chairperson in Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, has warned of dire consequences if the party loses the elections, deeming it the end of the national democratic revolution. He was speaking at the provincial executive committee’s Lekgotla in Boksburg. Lesufi expresses confidence in the ANC’s victory in the upcoming elections, emphasising the party’s ability to win without factional partners. Lesufi emphasises the importance of retaining power in the province:

# The Freedom Front Plus says over the past decade, the province has had to return more than 1,3-billion-rand to national government due to underspending. It says the province could have built at least six-thousand-600 houses, 65 new public schools or 13 new state hospitals with the money. Spokesperson Armand Cloete says the MEC for Finance, Gadija Brown, revealed the underspending of conditional allocations, received from national level, in reply to the party’s question in the legislature:

# The US Senate has approved an aid package worth 1.79-trillion-rand for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The Democratic-controlled Senate voted 72 to 29 in favour of the package when 22 Republicans voted with the Democrats. The legislation will now be sent to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Reuters reports president Joe Biden had urged Congress for months to hurry the new aid through, and also requested funds for humanitarian aid in Gaza. Both houses must approve the legislation before Biden can sign it into law.

# Rugby: Former Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber believes the appointment of Jerry Flannery as the Boks’ new defence coach was a good move on the part of Rassie Erasmus. Erasmus, who relinguished his role as director of rugby to become national head coach again, appointed the former Irish Test hooker in his coaching team to take over the role Nienaber used to fill. Flannery was Nienaber and Erasmus’s assistant at Munster earlier, and Nienaber says he is very familiar with the set-up and should fit in well.  

# And finally: The World Health Organisation is urging the world to re-engage, re-invigorate, and re-educate about condoms as International Condom Day is commemorated. In a statement, the WHO emphasises that condoms remain the only tool capable of preventing HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and unplanned pregnancies all at once. The organisation also highlights the use of artistic expression in promoting condom awareness and prevention. Brazilian artist Adriana Bertini’s work is being showcased as an example of creative condom promotion. 

Stay tuned for more news………….