News 17:00

BULLETIN 20 February 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ATM calls for a minister’s recusal in the awarding of the lottery license 
# Tshwane’s mayor condemns the proposed defunding of municipalities
# And Olympics: Coaches are worried that load-shedding will prevent swimmers from preparing properly 

# The African Transformation Movement has requested Trade and Industry minister Ebrahim Patel to recuse himself from the decision-making process for the new lottery license tender, to uphold integrity. This follows concerns raised by a whistle-blower regarding potential conflicts of interest involving Hosken Consolidated Investments, Ithuba, and the minister’s association with H-C-I CEO John Copelyn. The tender, valued at over 180-billion-rand, has attracted 18 bidders. ATM president Vuyo Zungula warned of further action if Patel does not comply.

# Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink has criticized the proposal to defund municipalities, calling it a bad idea. He highlighted a leaked National Treasury letter warning of potential forfeitures of unspent grants and subsidies. Brink argues the budget deficit is due to overspending on Eskom bailouts and salary increases, not local government underspending. He urges Finance minister Enoch Godongwana to reconsider, warning of devastating consequences on essential services and infrastructure. Brink calls for reforms instead of defunding municipalities:

# The North West provincial government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese National Import and Export Corporation to address load-shedding. Acting premier Nono Maloyi announced the project during the state of the province address, detailing plans for the construction of a gas-to-power plant in two phases. He says the initiative is expected to create a minimum of ten thousand jobs in the province:

# Olympics: The coaches of South Africa’s best swimmers are worried load-shedding could prevent them from preparing properly for the Games in Paris during the European summer. Swimmers have clinched most of the country’s medals since re-admission in 1992, and this year’s Olympians such as Tatjana Schoenmaker, Pieter Coetzé, Lara van Niekerk and Matthew Sates are expected to do the nation proud. But coaches say they aren’t assured of a pool where the water can be heated so they can prepare properly during the South African autumn and winter.

# And finally: The City of Cape Town has expressed concern over the increase in the number of teenage girls seen for their first antenatal visit. Between July 2022 and June 2023, the number of teenagers aged between 12 and 17 who visited a clinic for their first antenatal visit were 632, compared to 355 the previous year. Mayoral committee member for Community Service and Health, Patricia van der Ross says the increase was seen across all the city’s health districts:

Stay tuned for more news………….