News 17:00

BULLETIN 8 January 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa visits Robben Island as the ANC celebrates 113 years
# ActionSA calls for a probe into Paul Mashatile’s diamond gift scandal
# And Soccer: Tonight’s action in the PSL

# ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa begun the party’s 113th birthday celebrations at Robben Island. The traditional January 8th statement is scheduled for Khayelitsha on Saturday. At Robben Island, Ramaphosa visited former president Nelson Mandela’s cell, highlighting the island’s significance as a symbol of sacrifice and the fight for freedom. In his address, he said Robben Island provides inspiration:

# ActionSA has requested the Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka to investigate deputy president Paul Mashatile over a diamond gift from fraud-accused Louis Liebenberg. It is alleged that Liebenberg who is facing over 40 charges, gifted the diamond under suspicious circumstances. ActionSA’s Athol Trollip says the party questions Mashatile’s ethical compliance and connections to Liebenberg and demands transparency to combat corruption:

# The United Africans Transformation is calling for the immediate removal of the cut-off age on the Community Works Programme and urging the continuation of the programme as an essential relief for vulnerable South Africans. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister Velenkosini Hlabisa announced the department will terminate on 31 January the contracts of participants aged 55 and older. Spokesperson Mighty Mabule says ending the programme without a proper plan diminishes workers dignity and security:

# Two teenage sisters were arrested in Pakistan for killing their father by setting him on fire in revenge for rape. Police say the father was attacked on New Year’s Day and taken to hospital where he died yesterday. According to the girls they decided amongst themselves to find a permanent solution, took petrol from a motorcycle and set their father on fire as he slept. The pair, who are step-sisters, said their father had been raping the eldest girl for a year, and had twice attempted to rape the younger girl.

# Soccer: Seventh placed Kaizer Chiefs face fifth placed Stellenbosch FC in the Premier Soccer League tonight at the FNB stadium in Johannesburg and the fans want to see progress under Tunisian coach Nasreddine Nabi. Chiefs have managed five victories, three draws and five defeats in all competitions with Nabi in charge. Kick-off is at 7:30. In other matches tonight with the same kick-off time second placed Orlando Pirates are away to Cape Town City and AmaZulu face Sekhukhune United.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-86-cents and the euro at 19-rand-42-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-29-cents and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-345-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-657-dollars-1-cent a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-8-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….