News 08:00

BULLETIN 23 January 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa is confident South Africa will maintain close ties with the US
# Advocate Gauntlett will retire following sexual abuse accusations
# And 19-thousand people are under evacuation orders as a new wildfire has erupted in LA

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is not worried about South Africa’s relationship with the US under president Donald Trump. America is South Africa’s second-largest trading partner after China. The African Growth and Opportunity Act, which gives duty-free access to the US market for eligible sub-Saharan African countries, is set to expire in September. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Ramaphosa says South Africa is confident of retaining close trading and economic ties with America:

# Well-known senior advocate, Jeremy Gauntlett, says he plans to retire, following allegations of sexual abuse. On Tuesday, the General Council of the Bar referred the allegations for investigation to the Cape Bar Council and the Johannesburg Society of Advocates. Wits University senior social anthropology lecturer, Hylton White, has accused Gauntlett of sexually abusing him in the 1980s. Gauntlett, former president Jacob Zuma’s senior counsel in the Nkandla matter at the Constitutional Court, says the storm surrounding him is intolerable for him and his family.

# Gauteng Water Policing and Diving Services recovered 28 bodies from various locations across the province from the beginning of December last year until the 19th of this month. Each December, members are deployed daily at Bronkhorstspruit Dam, Roodeplaat Dam, and the Vaal Dam. Police spokesperson, Grant Giblin, says heavy rains and flooding contributed to members carrying out ten diving recovery operations, and 17 rescue and recovery operations:

# A new fast-moving wildfire has erupted in Los Angeles resulting in about 19-thousand people being placed under evacuation orders, while 15-thousand are under evacuation warnings. The Hughes fire north of Castaic is burning north of the Palisades and Eaton fires, which claimed the lives of at least 28 people earlier this month. A jail in the Castaic area with nearly 500 inmates has also been evacuated. The region is again under a red flag warning, which cautions of a high fire risk due to strong winds and dry, low-humid conditions.

# Cricket: Defending SA20 champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape beat the Pretoria Capitals by 52 runs in Gqeberha, to secure a third consecutive bonus-point victory. An unbeaten 68 from captain Aiden Markram saw the Sunrisers post 149 for seven in their 20 overs. In reply, fast bowler Marco Jansen claimed four wickets as the Capitals were bowled out for 97 runs. This win puts the Sunrisers back in contention for a playoff spot. Markram was full of praise for Jansen:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-49-cents and the euro at 19-rand-25-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 102-thousand-870-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-750-dollars-35-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-2-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….