News 09:00

BULLETIN 27 January 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Ramokgopa hails the Expropriation Act as a positive step for spatial transformation
# Court to hear Zuma and MK Party’s case over the SABC’s use of GNU
# And Trump imposes a 25% tariff hike on Colombia and a travel ban

# Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, says the Expropriation Act signals an unequivocal step in South Africa’s spatial transformation. The new law outlines the state’s procedure for the expropriation of any property in the public interest. The ministry’s spokesperson, Litha Mpondwana, says the law will assist in the implementation of the Spatial Development Framework, through its legislation on how the state can expropriate land in the public interest for varied reasons:

# The High Court in Johannesburg is today set to hear former president Jacob Zuma and the MK Party’s application against the SABC’s use of the term government of national unity. In court papers, Zuma said the SABC is an organ of the state and should not mimic the ANC when it incorrectly calls the seventh administration the GNU. Zuma and the MK Party want the court to declare the conduct of the SABC as unconstitutional and invalid amongst other things.

# The GOOD Party says it does not accept Cape Town residents to foot the bill for any tender fraud investigation or charges brought against mayoral committee members, JP Smith, and Xanthia Limberg. This comes after police raided their offices last Friday, allegedly as part of the Hawks’ investigation into dodgy housing tenders worth one-billion-rand. GOOD’s secretary-general, Brett Herron, says there should be transparency and accountability regarding the metro’s financial and legal involvement in the matter:

# US president Donald Trump says he has ordered the commerce ministry to raise tariffs on US imports to Colombia by 25-percent, which would be raised to 50-percent in one week. This comes after Colombian president Gustavo Petro blocked two US military aircraft carrying deported Colombians from landing in his country. Trump says the US will also impose a travel ban and immediate visa revocations on Colombian government officials, as well as its allies and supporters. Petro says he would impose retaliatory tariffs of 25-percent on the US.

# Cricket: The Joburg Super Kings recorded a comprehensive nine-wicket bonus point victory against defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 at the Wanderers. Fast bowlers Lutho Sipamla and Hardus Viljoen ripped through the Sunrisers’ batting order, with the visitors bowled out for 118. In reply, Devon Conway scored an unbeaten 76 as he led the Super Kings to victory with 36 balls to spare. Super Kings captain, Faf du Plessis, was full of praise for Sipamla:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-51-cents and the euro at 19-rand-37-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-5-cents and Bitcoin trades at 100-thousand-502-dollars-XX-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-756-dollars-29-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-99-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….