SABC News Headlines: 2nd February 2023

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  • The country’s energy crisis is set to top the agenda of the two-day Cabinet Lekgotla at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria today.
  • KwaZulu Natal police say they are searching for a group of 20 armed men who shot and killed four people at the KwaMashu men’s hostel in Durban.
    Three people died on the scene while a fourth person died at a local clinic.
    Five other victims were injured and rushed to a nearby clinic. It’s believed a group of armed men, entered one of the housing units and randomly opened fire. The motive for the attack is unknown.
  • The IEC is one of the stakeholders that will present to parliament’s Home Affairs Committee today regarding the Electoral Amendment Bill. The Bill is expected to be finalised by the seventh of this month before it’s sent to the National Assembly for debate and final approval. Yesterday, the Home Affairs Committee was briefed by Parliament’s Content Advisor on the submissions received on the Bill which was amended by the NCOP.
    Some of the amendments include looking into broader electoral reform and the number of signatures of support needed for independent candidates to be included on the ballot papers.
  • The Western Cape Health Department has urged residents to get their booster COVID-19 vaccination doses if it has been longer than 180 days since their previous dose. Authorities say immunity decreases over time and a booster helps to increase antibodies up to ten times. The highly contagious Omicron offshoot variant – XBB one-point-five is leading to increased COVID-19 infections across the world. Health authorities say vaccination remains the best defence against serious illness and death from COVID-19.