News 15:00

BULLETIN 10 January 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Young Communist League calls for an objective investigation into the NSFAS corruption claims
# SASSA fails to pay more than 70-thousand beneficiaries
# And: Cape Town adventure swimmer Kim Prytz sets two new Robben Island records

# The Young Communist League of South Africa calls for a comprehensive investigation into corruption within the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. They criticised the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse’s report, accusing it of a deliberate plot against government successes. The league believes the allegations against Higher Education, Science and Innovation minister Blade Nzimande and the scheme’s board chairperson,Ernest Khosa, are baseless and unverified. The league’s secretary, Mzwandile Thakhudi, condemns the reported corrupt activities, such as payments to ghost students, and advocates for state bank involvement.

# The DA says it has been inundated with concerns from SASSA grant beneficiaries fearing the need to reapply and facing months without their funds. The party claims over 70-thousand beneficiaries await this month’s social grants, with SASSA blaming a glitch tied to the verification of banking details. The DA’s Bridget Masango says previous issues in September left many without payment, raising fears that unpaid child support grant recipients may only receive funds next month:

# Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Vusi Shongwe is urging ANC birthday celebration participants this coming weekend in Mbombela to obey the rules of the road. Law enforcement will be on extreme alert to respond to any eventuality. Reports suggest that most places of accommodation are already fully booked. The department’s spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi says this augers well for tourism and many small businesses in and around the city of Mbombela:

# Cape Town adventure swimmer Kim Prytz has etched her name in the record books by conquering the Robben Island Crossing swimming breaststroke. Prytz  swam the 19.8 kilometers in 14 hours, 13 minutes, and 3 seconds, without the assistance of a wetsuit. Dubbed the ‘Reconciliation Swim,’ this remarkable achievement also served a charitable purpose, as 49-year old Prytz dedicated her swim to supporting the Goedgedacht Trust. The trust actively contributes to the transformation of disadvantaged rural communities in the Western Cape.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-63-cents and the euro at 20-rand-39-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-69-cents and Bitcoin trades at 45-thousand-496-dollars-44-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-33-dollars-64-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-67cents a barrel.

# And finally: A couple in Pennsylvania have brought a whole new meaning to the phrase “my dog ate my homework” after their pooch devoured four-thousand dollars in cash. The seven-year-old Cecil decided to eat the money his owners Clayton and Carrie Law withdrew to pay gardeners. After patiently waiting for some of the money to pass naturally the couple got to work reassembling some of the 100- and 50-dollar notes. Fortunately, their bank said as long as the serial numbers were visible, it would take back the chewed money.

Stay tuned for more news………….