News 12:00

BULLETIN 17 January 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A parliamentary portfolio committee plans to probe the lending practices of South Africa’s banks
# Five suspects are arrested for the killing of an on-duty police officer in Mpumalanga
# And tennis: Aryna Sabalenka records a hard-fought victory as she makes the fourth round in Melbourne

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Trade, Industry, and Competition, alongside the Finance committee, will meet major banks next month to review lending practices. Chairperson Mzwandile Masina emphasises concerns over easier access to consumption credit than production loans, calling the approach disempowering for marginalised communities. Banks, including ABSA, FNB, and Capitec, confirmed their attendance. Topics include transparency, interest calculations, and economic inclusivity. Oversight efforts aim to ensure the financial sector supports transformation and protects vulnerable consumers.

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Higher Education urges the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to ensure this year’s funding applications are processed accurately and only eligible students receive support. Chairperson Tebogo Letsie also raised concerns over the delayed release of the 2024 matric results, warning it could disrupt the start of the academic year:

# Mpumalanga police have arrested five suspects in connection with the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius. The 59-year-old police officer was shot and killed while driving in a state vehicle in Ermelo yesterday afternoon. Police spokesperson Jabu Ndubane says a vehicle believed to have been used during the crime has been found torched next to Extension 7 in the town this morning:

# A Pakistani court convicted former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in a landmark graft case, sentencing Khan to 14 years in prison. He has been held in custody since August 2023, charged with around 200 cases, but his party claims the latest conviction was being used to pressure him into silence. The anti-graft court convened in the jail near the capital of Islamabad where Khan is being held, and convicted him along with his wife over a welfare foundation they established together.

# Tennis: Defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka is through to the fourth round of the Australian Open, continuing her bid for a third consecutive title at Melbourne Park. The 26-year-old Belarusian recorded a hard-fought victory over 42nd-ranked Clara Tauson of Denmark. Eleventh-seeded Paula Badosa of Spain edged passed Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk. There were also victories for Croatian Donna Vekic and Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. In the men’s draw, American Tommy Paul defeated Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-72-cents and the euro at 19-rand-27-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 101-thousand-794-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-710-dollars-36-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 80-dollars-61-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….