News 11:00

BULLETIN 20 January 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says South Africa’s message at the World Economic Forum will focus on sustainable and inclusive growth
# Donald Trump vows to sign close to a hundred executive orders within hours of taking office today
# And cricket: Gerald Coetzee may still be included in the Proteas’ squad for the Champions Trophy

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says one of the messages the South African delegation will take to the World Economic Forum meeting in Switzerland, is the country’s ongoing commitment to partnerships in pursuit of inclusive growth and sustainable development. The meeting comes as the country takes its spot at the forum bearing the presidency of the Group of 20. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa says at the centre of the G20 agenda is the promotion of cooperation among countries on the most pressing issues facing the world. 

# The Freedom Front Plus says it is unacceptable and not in the public’s best interest to disband the South African Police Service Inspectorate Division. The police services say national commissioner, Fannie Masemola, is legally empowered to arrange and rearrange the inspectorate. The FF Plus’s Heloïse Denner says specific reasons for the disbandment needs to be provided as soon as possible:

# Non-governmental organisation the Bench-Marks Foundation says the lack of formalisation of artisanal mining exacerbated the Stilfontein tragedy in North West. More than 80 bodies of illegal miners were retrieved from the disused Buffelsfontein gold mine, and over one-thousand people have surfaced from a shaft at the mine since November. The foundation says creating a legal framework for small-scale miners would not only improve safety standards, but also provide economic opportunities for communities affected by high unemployment.

# US president-elect Donald Trump says he will act with historic speed and strength to implement nearly 100 executive orders on his first day in office. He is set to be inaugurated as America’s 47th president today. The executive orders include the reinstatement of a series of his first-term immigration policies. Addressing a crowd in Washington, Trump vowed to make public records around the assassination of former president John F Kennedy and political activist Martin Luther King Junior:

# Cricket South Africa says Gerald Coetzee remains in contention for selection for the upcoming Champions Trophy, and a decision on his inclusion will be made in the first week of February. The fast bowler has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing SA20 tournament with a left hamstring strain. He was touted to replace Anrich Nortjé, who was ruled out of the 50-over tournament in Pakistan due to injury. CSA says Coetzee’s recovery will be monitored closely by the Proteas’ medical team.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-69-cents and the euro at 19-rand-26-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 108-thousand-924-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-708-dollars-93-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-76-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….