News 15:00

BULLETIN 30 January 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Zuma’s daughter is released on a warning following her court appearance
# Cape Town opposition parties reject the mayor’s decision to protect two mayoral committee members
# And tennis: The US Open will now be a 15-day tournament

# The daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, accused of inciting the July 2021 unrest, has been released on a warning by the Durban Magistrate’s Court in KwaZulu-Natal. Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla faces charges related to inciting terrorism and public violence during the unrest, which resulted in the deaths of over 300 people. Magistrate Irfaan Khalil transferred the case to the High Court in Durban, with her next appearance set for 20 March:

# Opposition parties in Cape Town rejected mayor Geordin Hill-Lews’ explanation that there was insufficient evidence to justify the removal of JP Smith and Xanthea Limberg from his mayoral committee. They say there was objective evidence the pair are under investigation. The GOOD Party’s Brett Herron says if the shoe was on the other foot, with a mere hint of corruption, with no raid or official charge, the DA would be the first to call for removal:

# Operations at the Groblers Bridge port of entry between Limpopo and Botswana have resumed today. This comes after heavy rainfall caused significant flood damage to infrastructure, necessitating the need for operations to be temporarily suspended. Border Management Authority’s spokesperson, Mmemme Mogotsi, says the necessary repairs have now been completed, and the border post has resumed its critical role of facilitating cross-border movement and trade between South Africa and Botswana:

# A man who repeatedly burnt the Koran in Sweden in 2023, sparking outrage in Muslim countries, has been shot dead. Police confirmed Salwan Momika’s death. A Stockholm court was due to rule today whether the Christian Iraqi who burned Korans at a slew of protests, was guilty of inciting ethnic hatred. It postponed the ruling until next week, saying that because Momika has died, more time was needed.

# Tennis: The US Open is expanding its main draw to 15 days, beginning on a Sunday for the first time in the Open era. The US Tennis Association says this decision was taken following a third consecutive year of extraordinary demand and record-breaking attendance last year. It says the Sunday start will offer main-draw access to an additional 70-thousand spectators. Wimbledon is now the only remaining Grand Slam tournament with the traditional Monday start after the Australian Open changed last year and the French Open in 2006.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-51-cents and the euro at 19-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-1-cent and Bitcoin trades at 105-thousand-191-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-778-dollars-85-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-63-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….