News 06:00

BULLETIN 30 January 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Lamola calls for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access in DRC
# Fedusa wants a thorough assessment of all SANDF missions
# And the MK Party supports Trump’s leadership in fighting corruption

# Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola has called for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access in the Democratic Republic of Congo as fighting in the east intensifies. Lamola told the media the government supports the African Union and United Nations calls for all parties to halt hostilities and return to negotiations. He has also urged countries backing the M23 rebels to withdraw their support immediately:

Meanwhile, the Federation of Unions of South Africa is calling for a thorough assessment of all missions where South African National Defence Force soldiers are deployed. This is to ensure adequate resources and their safety. Thirteen SANDF soldiers have been killed in clashes with the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Fedusa says it hopes this loss of life would serve as a wake-up call for the government to reconsider its approach to resourcing and supporting the defence force. 

# MK Party member of parliament, David Mandla Skosana, has criticised municipal executives and entity boards for failing to protect public funds from looting and wasteful expenditure. Skosana’s remarks at the Standing Committee on Public Accounts highlighted the growing frustration over financial mismanagement. He suggested that South Africa needs a decisive leader, like US president Donald Trump:

# Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, has characterised the torching of 51 Putco buses in Mpumalanga as an act of economic sabotage, given the critical role that the bus industry plays in the mobility of the workforce. A group of people stormed depots in the Nkangala District on Monday night and torched the buses. A security guard was shot and wounded, while two suspects have been arrested. Creecy says her department will continue to support any effort taken to prevent acts of sabotage on the country’s public transport system.

# Opposition parties in the Western Cape have called for an urgent meeting with Provincial Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile. This follows claims by DA’s JP Smith and DA’s chairperson of the Federal Council, Helen Zille that they were tipped off about a tender fraud investigation. GOOD’s Brett Herron, says the party, as well as the ANC, EFF, FF Plus, and PA, seek clarity on possible political interference in SAPS investigations:

# Rugby: Wing Josh Adams and fullback Liam Williams have been named in Wales’ starting team to face France in tomorrow’s Six Nations opener in Paris. The pair, who both missed large chunks of 2024, is a major boost for Warren Gatland’s side, who have lost their past 12 Tests. Dafydd Jenkins is also back in the side after undergoing surgery. Williams did not take part in last year’s Six Nations due to Japanese club commitments but returns to the Welsh fold after re-joining Saracens in November.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-54-cents and the euro at 19-rand-33-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-10-cents and Bitcoin trades at 103-thousand-889-dollar-60-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-760-dollars-18-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-73-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….