News 18:00

BULLETIN 20 February 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The latest crime statistics show the murder rate fell by nearly 9-percent
# The Muslim Judicial Council condemns the fatal shooting of Moulana Mustaqeem Wanza in Mitchells Plain
# And, the ANC says ActionSA is threatened by EFF hence refusal of MMC positions in Ekurhuleni

# Acting Police minister Firoz Cachalia says the latest crime statistics between October and December show a continued decline in violent crime nationwide, with murders down by 8.7-percent. Overall, violent crime decreased by 6.7-percent compared to the same period in 2024. Cachalia told the media that the government plans stronger action on organised crime, illegal guns, gender-based violence, and will expand community policing:

# The Muslim Judicial Council has condemned the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Moulana Mustaqeem Wanza in Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain. Police say he had just left a mosque when he was approached and shot by unknown suspects. Two other men were wounded and taken to hospital. The motive remains unclear and no arrests have been made. The council’s spokesperson Sheikh Riad Fataar has called for a swift and thorough investigation, describing the attack as shocking and deeply distressing.

# Ekurhuleni ANC regional secretary Jongizizwe Dlabathi says the party invited ActionSA to join the mayoral committee, but the offer was declined. Dlabathi says ActionSA was threatened by the EFF. Dlabathi denounced claims that ActionSA refused the position due to a failing government, asserting the city continues to function despite past mismanagement. He highlighted that the party previously held a Community Safety MMC role during the city’s era of barren years:

# British Foreign minister Yvette Cooper is meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio today, after president Donald Trump renewed his criticism of London for ceding sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, which is home to a joint US-UK air base. British prime minister Keir Starmer last year agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Indian Ocean islands to Mauritius, while keeping control of Diego Garcia through a 99-year lease that preserved US operations at the base. The base has recently been used for operations in the Middle East.

# Rugby: South African-born Duhan van der Merwe and Kyle Steyn will be Scotland’s winger pairing in tomorrow’s Six Nations clash with Wales in Cardiff. Van der Merwe missed out on the first two rounds despite being the team’s most prolific try-scorer. Coach Gregor Townsend made five changes to the starting-15 that broke England’s 12-match winning streak at Murrayfield in Edinburgh last weekend. The other round three matches see England welcoming Ireland to Twickenham tomorrow, and France and Italy doing battle in Paris on Sunday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-11-cents and the euro at 18-rand-96-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-71-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-734-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-32-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-7-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….