News 07:00

BULLETIN 14 January 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Gwarube says the quality of education must improve
# AfriForum demands an overhaul of intelligence agencies
# And boxing: Former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury retires

# Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, says while the achievements of the matric class of 2024 must be celebrated, the country must also reflect on the health of the basic education system. The national pass rate for the National Senior Certificate has increased from 82.9-percent in 2023 to 87.3-percent. Gwarube says while good progress has been made in expanding education access, the attention must now turn to improving the quality of the education that learners receive:

Meanwhile, the DA says the success of the matric class of 2024 is a testament to their hard work and the commitment of teachers, school leaders, and families across the country. The class achieved the highest-ever pass rate. The DA’s, Delmaine Christians, says they welcome Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube’s proposed strategic reorientation toward early childhood development and the foundation phase:

# AfriForum is calling for immediate reforms to South Africa’s intelligence agencies, citing widespread corruption and political interference. According to the civil rights organisation, the State Security Agency is failing to protect the country, with reports of misused funds, like 22.7-million-rand spent on a luxury hotel. AfriForum’s Jacques Broodryk urges the government to restore the integrity and functionality of the intelligence agencies:

# “Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia” has voiced concern over the inhumane treatment of vulnerable individuals in dire working conditions. Condemning the government’s failure to act, KAAX demands swift efforts for miners trapped at Stilfontein’s Buffelsfontein Gold Mine. The group praised the judiciary’s role in safeguarding human rights and criticises the government’s inaction as a constitutional failure. KAAX urges swift intervention to protect the lives and dignity of affected individuals. The group has stressed the need for systemic reforms to aid marginalised communities.

# A US federal judge cleared the way for the release of former special counsel Jack Smith’s report into president-elect Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Smith alleged that Trump and several unindicted co-conspirators undertook a multi-stage scheme to attack the peaceful transfer of power. This culminated in the January 2021 assault on the US Capitol by Trump’s supporters. Florida judge Aileen Cannon has scheduled a court hearing regarding the part of Smith’s report dealing with the classified documents investigation.

# Boxing: Former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury has announced his retirement with immediate effect. The 36-year-old Briton last fought in December, when he lost his rematch against WBA, WBC, and WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk. This is not the first time Fury has announced his retirement, in April 2022, after beating Dillian Whyte, he said he would be hanging up his gloves. Fury is a two-time heavyweight champion and holds a record of 34 wins, two defeats and one draw.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-97-cents and the euro at 19-rand-44-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-17-cents and Bitcoin trades at 94-thousand-730-dollar-80-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-669-dollars-8-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 80-dollars-11-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….