News 07:00

BULLETIN 15 January 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Rise Mzansi sets out its priorities for a national dialogue
# The FF Plus demands the revocation of the BELA Act proclamation
# And golf: Jon Rahm says the lack of world ranking points for LIV is wrong

# Rise Mzansi has set out its priorities for the national dialogue and the work of the government of national unity. The party is calling for urgent action to address deep socioeconomic issues, including high unemployment, poverty, and crumbling infrastructure. President Cyril Ramaphosa is urged to hold ministers accountable for their performance and ethical conduct. Party leader Songezo Zibi urges political parties and civil society to unite for a prosperous and equal society.

# The Freedom Front Plus urges president Cyril Ramaphosa to revoke the full proclamation of the BELA Act, which was announced last month. The party argues the decision goes against recommendations by the government of national unity’s dispute resolution mechanism, which called for further consultation on controversial sections dealing with language and admission policies. The FF Plus’s Wynand Boshoff says they plan to challenge the proclamation through legal channels to protect mother-tongue education and single-medium schools:

# Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Community Safety Committee has urged immediate action on school safety as schools reopen today. The Committee has demanded urgent implementation of school safety measures outlined in the Focused Intervention Study. The report highlights violence, and weapons in schools. Recommendations include enhanced searches, increased security personnel, and multidisciplinary anti-drug strategies. Chairperson Bandile Masuku says the departments have until 28 February to report progress:

# A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of eight people in Pienaar, Mpumalanga, on Saturday. The 43-year-old man was apprehended on Tuesday afternoon. The first suspect, a 39-year-old man, appeared in the Kabokweni Magistrate’s Court where he was charged with eight counts of murder. Police spokesperson, Jabu Ndubane, says the second suspect will make his court appearance soon:

# The United Nations International Organisation for Migration says surging gang violence in Haiti has caused a threefold rise in the number of people uprooted from their homes in a year. More than one-million people have been displaced across Haiti so far, up from the 315-thousand recorded on 20 December 2023. The violence left more than five-thousand-600 people dead last year. The IOM says as the violence continues, it has become more difficult to safely reach the most vulnerable people in a growing number of displacement sites.

# Golf: Two-time major champion Jon Rahm says the lack of world ranking points available for LIV players is unfair. The World Ranking system rejected LIV’s application in 2023 after the league failed to meet two key criteria for inclusion. The decision effectively blocked LIV from major championship eligibility, where spots are guaranteed based on world ranking position. Rahm says at this point to not give LIV world ranking points and the credibility it deserves is wrong.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-92-cents and the euro at 19-rand-48-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-9-cents and Bitcoin trades at 97-thousand-55-dollar-60-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-673-dollars-60-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-50-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….