News 14:00

BULLETIN 15 January 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# BOSA says president Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the inauguration in Mozambique is a threat to democracy
# A Portfolio Committee calls for the acceleration of school infrastructure projects in Gauteng
# And Tennis: Alcaraz and Djokovic back the teenager Joao Fonseca to be one of the best

# Build One South Africa says president Cyril Ramaphosa’s attendance of the inauguration of Mozambique’s president-elect Daniel Chapo sends a dangerous message about South Africa’s stance on democracy. The party argues the Mozambican elections were plagued by violence and irregularities, including assassination attempts on opposition leaders, undermining their legitimacy. BOSA acting spokesperson Roger Solomons warns that such endorsements risk destabilising the Southern African Development Community region and eroding democratic values:

# The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Infrastructure Development has urged the fast-tracking of school projects in order to address overcrowding in schools. With the 2025 academic year starting today, many schools remain incomplete, delaying relief for growing learner numbers. The Committee demands improved project management, accountability for delays, and action against those responsible for inefficiencies, corruption, or negligence. Chairperson Bones Modise says this will ensure that all learners have access to safe, conducive learning environments.

# A total of 49 men have been arrested in India for the repeated sexual abuse of a teenager over years. The young victim is a Dalit, the lowest rung in the rigid Hindu caste system, who are disproportionately targeted for sexual violence in a country with high rates of crime against women. The unnamed 18-year old woman, said around 60 men sexually abused her in her southern home state of Kerala beginning from when she was just 13. The accused men were known to the woman and included neighbours and family friends.

# Tennis: Carlos Alcaraz tipped giant-killing teenager Joao Fonseca to “really soon” be one of the best players in the world while Novak Djokovic said he saw shades of his younger self in the Brazilian. The fearless 18-year-old qualifier stunned ninth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets on his Grand Slam debut yesterday. Fonseca last month became the second-youngest champion of the NextGen ATP tournament since current world number one Jannik Sinner claimed the title five years ago. Four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz, himself only 21, was suitably impressed.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-86-cents and the euro at 19-rand-44-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-5-cents and Bitcoin trades at 96-thousand-885-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-685-dollars-75-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-60-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Time Out has announced that Cape Town has topped the annual list of the Best Cities in the World. Time Out is a global brand that inspires and enables people to experience the best of the city through Time Out Media and Time Out Market. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says scoring highly across the board for its beauty, overall happiness and top-notch food scene, Cape Town has climbed one place since last year when it ranked second:

Stay tuned for more news………….