News 18:00

BULLETIN 3 February 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Panyaza Lesufi urges investment in innovative building technologies
# Nersa reviews the municipal tariff applications for three municipalities
# And, the DA condemns the massive salary increases for Ekurhuleni HODs

# Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi has called for investment in skills and resources to advance innovative building technologies. Speaking at the IBT Summit in Nasrec, Lesufi said new ideas are key to ending outdated practices and improving human settlements. He emphasised the need for safer, more resilient housing, free from fire and flooding, and welcomed innovators ready to contribute to a better South Africa:

# The National Energy Regulator of South Africa has confirmed it received late electricity tariff applications from Ekurhuleni, Madibeng, and Msunduzi Municipalities following a court order that set aside unlawfully approved 2024/25 tariffs. The regulator says the process could lead to future adjustments, with households likely facing higher costs while industrial users may be credited. The energy regulator will assess the submissions, invite public comment, and hold hearings before making a final decision ahead of the new municipal financial year.

# The DA has exposed that Ekurhuleni Heads of Department Khemie Beharie and Linda Gxasheka received a 28-percent salary hike, at 585-thousand-286-rand each, within two months of appointment. Fourteen months later, a three-percent cost-of-living increase took their salaries to 2.7-million-rand. The increases were approved by the Executive Mayor and Mayoral Committee without council scrutiny. The DA’s Brandon Pretorius says both implicated by the Madlanga Commission remain on precautionary suspension amid ongoing investigations:

# Spain plans to ban access to social media for minors under 16 and platforms will be required to implement age-verification systems. Prime minister Pedro Sanchez announced several measures to guarantee a safe digital environment. His left-wing coalition government has repeatedly complained about the proliferation of hate speech, pornographic content and disinformation on social media, saying it had negative effects on young people. Sanchez addressed the World Government Summit in Dubai and called on other European countries to implement similar measures.

# Rugby: The Stormers’ Springbok scrumhalf, Cobus Reinach, underwent groin surgery which will keep him out for up to six weeks. The team says the operation was planned after he managed the injury since last year. Reinach scored his team’s first try in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship match against the Sharks in Durban, but they squandered the lead and eventually lost 36-24. The player, who turns 36 on Saturday, won’t miss much of the Stormers’ matches because they have a four-week break before their next engagement.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-99-cents and the euro at 18-rand-85-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-86-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-61-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-904-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….