News 13:00

BULLETIN 8 January 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The PAC says the corruption allegations against minister Nzimande are nothing new
# Construction of residential homes for victims of the Jagersfontein dam disaster begins
# And, cricket: Protea wicketkeeper retires from Tests

# The Pan Africanist Congress says corruption allegations against Higher Education, Science and Technology minister Blade Nzimande, using the Higher Education sector as a way to channel money for himself and the South African Communist Party, are not new. The PAC student movement has for years called for Nzimande’s removal, over allegations of using the technical and vocational education and training sector and SETAs to steal money from the state. The PAC’s spokesperson, Azania Tyhali, says these are the natural results of a petty bourgeois post-colonial nationalist dispensation:

# Eastern Cape police have launched a manhunt for suspects involved in the murder of four men aged between 30 and 35. A dark grey Toyota Avanza was allegedly ambushed at Ntokozweni Location outside Ugie on Saturday night. The suspects shot at the vehicle using rifle and handguns. All four male occupants believed to be from Engcobo, died on the scene. Police spokesperson, Siphokazi Mawisa says the motive for the fatal attack is yet to be established:

# The construction of houses that were destroyed when a mine dam wall collapsed at Jagersfontein in the Free State in 2022 has finally begun. The construction begins 15 months after the dam collapsed at a diamond mine, releasing a watery mixture of mining sludge called tailing. The sludge poured across the landscape, destroying homes, rivers and grazing land, leaving dozens injured. According to the SABC, the contractor, Thapelo Lebona, says the rebuilding of 54 homes is expected to be completed by March this year.

# Authorities say a criminal syndicate that planned to illegally export hundreds of native lizards from Australia to Hong Kong has been dismantled. According to New South Wales police the reptiles had an estimated market value of more than 15-million-rand. Three men and a woman were arrested in Sydney and charged with offences including the export of native reptiles, dealing with the proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group. Some 257 lizards and three snakes were seized by police after allegedly being kept in poor conditions. They have been treated and returned to the wild.

# Cricket: Proteas wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen has announced his retirement from Tests after playing only four games for South Africa since making his debut in 2019. The 32-year-old scored 104 runs in his four Tests, but one-thousand-638 in one-day games and 710 in T20s. Klaasen says although the longest format is his favourite, he believes this is the right decision for him at this stage of his career. He says red ball cricket shaped him into the player he has become, but for now a new challenge awaits.

Stay tuned for more news………….