News 17:00

BULLETIN 16 January 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Azapo questions the integrity of South African elections
# RISE Mzansi welcomes Khume Ramulifho from the DA
# And, soccer: Bafana is back at Afcon and looking for a hot start

# The Azanian People’s Organisation has raised concerns about the fairness of elections in the country, accusing the ruling ANC of being capable of rigging election outcomes. Azapo attributes this belief to the ANC’s fearless election slogan. The party takes note of comments by former ANC secretary-general, Ace Magashule, who claimed knowledge about the future of votes. Azapo spokesperson Jabu Rakwena calls attention to potential electoral issues, prompting a closer look at the electoral process:

# RISE Mzansi has welcomed the DA’s former Education spokesperson in Gauteng, Khume Ramulifho. The party calls him a talented and experienced political leader and public representative, who has served as both a councillor in the City of Johannesburg and a member of the Gauteng provincial legislature. RISE Mzansi national chairperson, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa says Ramulifho is joining the party at a critical time as it continues to build the organisation in Gauteng, which is set to be one of the most contested battlegrounds in the upcoming elections:

# Airports Company South Africa has launched an investigation after a female passenger who arrived at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng from Cape Town, collapsed and died in the domestic arrivals area. The incident occurred last night, and despite immediate paramedic response, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the passenger could not be revived and was declared dead at the scene. The suspected cause is cardiac arrest, pending an official determination. The identity of the woman is withheld until her next of kin is informed. ACSA extends heartfelt condolences to the family.

# Iran’s Revolutionary Court has issued Nobel Peace Prize winner, Narges Mohammadi, an additional 15-month prison sentence. She is currently serving a 12-year term of charges of spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic while incarcerated. The prominent human rights advocate has experienced imprisonment 13 times. Her family denounces the verdict, emphasising this as her fifth conviction since March 2021, raising concerns about the treatment of human rights defenders in Iran.

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana is back at the Africa Cup of Nations after not qualifying for the 2021 tournament in Cameroon. South Africa will play its first group match against Mali in Ivory Coast at ten o’clock this evening. Their other group games are against Namibia on Sunday and Tunisia next Wednesday. Bafana head coach Hugo Broos says a good start is crucial: 

# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-90-cents and the euro at 20-rand-56-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 42-thousand-900-dollars-15-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-37-dollars-21-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-92-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….