News 07:00

BULLETIN 2 January 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The GOOD Party says South Africa’s application to the International Court of Justice seeks justice for Palestinians
# The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi is re-elected after a contested poll
# And cricket,  Neil Brand will lead a new-look Proteas side for the Test tour to New Zealand 

# The GOOD Party says South Africa’s application against Israel at the International Court of Justice, under the Genocide Convention, is a welcome attempt to deliver justice to Palestinian civilians. Brett Herron says government’s application is an important opportunity to find truth, and hopefully a binding order of peace, by an independent court of international law, in a world polarised by the conflict and conflicting narratives of righteousness:

# The minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, attributes the undermining of institutions like Eskom to the potent force of greed. Gordhan asserts that the true masterminds behind the corruption that has plagued Eskom, remain at large. According to Business Tech, the minister contends that without decisive action from law enforcement and the national prosecuting authority to apprehend these key figures, corruption will persist. Gordhan emphasises the urgent need to combat the culture of corruption within Eskom’s ecosystem, to ensure the institution’s integrity and effectiveness.

# Ixande Addiction and Psychiatric Clinic‘s Greg Molfetas has cautioned that children as young as twelve have already experienced drugs. This comes as a new drug called Pink Cocaine has hit the City of Cape Town and parts of Johannesburg. Molfetas told eNCA that street drugs have become easily accessible, with parents having to find rehabilitation help for their children. He emphasises that treatment centers are intensifying prevention programmes to address the growing issue of drug exposure and use among young individuals:

# The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, has been re-elected for a second term after getting more than 73-percent of the vote in the poll during December. The country’s election commission declared the result follows days of opposition complaints about the way the election was conducted. Tshisekedi had obtained more than 13-million votes out of over 18-million valid votes, with a turnout of more than 43-percent. Political parties have two days to challenge the outcome of the election at the Constitutional Court. The court then has seven days to rule on the case and proclaim the final result.

# Cricket: Cricket South Africa named a completely new-look Proteas side for February’s two-match Test series tour against New Zealand.  Of the Proteas currently doing Test duty against India, only batters David Bedingham, Keegan Petersen and newly called-up Zubayr Hamza are included. Neil Brand will make his Test debut and captain the side, which will see familiar faces like Dane Paterson, Duanne Olivier, Khaya Zondo and Dane Piedt. The other uncapped players are Raynard van Tonder, all-rounders Ruan de Swardt and Mihlali Mpongwana, seam bowler Tshepo Moreki, spinner Shaun von Berg and wicketkeeper Clyde Fortuin.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-28-cents and the euro at 20-rand-20-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-30-cents and Bitcoin trades at 45-thousand-246-dollars-19-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-67-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-28-cents a barrel.

# And finally, president Cyril Ramaphosa has granted the legendary and internationally acclaimed playwright, composer, director and theatre producer Mbongeni Ngema a Special Provincial Official Funeral Category 2. The premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, says Ngema distinguished himself as a true South African legend who used creative art and theatre to contribute to the fight for freedom the country is enjoying today. Ngema was killed in a car crash on Wednesday 27 December on his way from the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal. Further details relating to the funeral service will be communicated in due course.

Stay tuned for more news………….