News 07:00

BULLETIN 18 January 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# An Oxfam study reveals the stark reality of wealth inequality in South Africa
# Lawyers for Human Rights welcome the ruling declaring that ID blocking by Home Affairs is unconstitutional
# And cricket, three wins from three for the Paarl Royals, while the Super Kings remain winless

# Charity organisation Oxfam says the stark reality of wealth inequality is evident in South Africa as the richest one-percent holds over 95-percent of securities and shares, while an astonishing 62.7-percent of these assets are concentrated within the wealthiest 0.01-percent. Oxfam’s latest briefing, “Inequality Inc,” highlights the immense disparity, emphasising that the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few exacerbates economic divisions. The report underscores the urgent need for government intervention to regulate and restructure the private sector, fostering a more equitable distribution of resources within the country.

# Lawyers for Human Rights has welcomed the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruling that the Department of Home Affairs can no longer block South African IDs arbitrarily. Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and Director-General Livhuwani Makhode were taken to task by affected resident Phindile Mazibuko and civil society organisations after the department went on a widespread campaign to block IDs it deemed suspicious and fraudulent. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Lawyers For Human Rights’ Thandeka Chauke says the court declared the department’s actions as unjust:

# The Western Cape Department of Local Government, Environmental Affairs, and Development Planning has approved additional funding to bolster the province’s wildfire budget from 16-million-rand to 19-million-rand. This comes as firefighters battled wildfires on Boyes Drive in Muizenberg, and in Franschhoek yesterday, and both have been contained. Since last month, 837 wildfires have been reported to the Provincial Disaster Management Centre. MEC Anton Bredell says the likelihood of more wildfires in the coming months is a real concern:

# Government is expected to meet with the Border Alliance Taxi Association and Uncedo Taxi Association leadership to find a solution to the ongoing taxi violence in the Eastern Cape town of Port St Johns. On Tuesday, members of the two associations started shooting at each other at the Port St Johns taxi rank, leaving three people dead and five injured, including an eleven-year-old boy. Eleven suspects have been arrested and are facing charges of murder, attempted murder, malicious damage to property, discharging firearms in a built-up municipal area, and public violence.

# King Charles The Third is set to be admitted into hospital next week to treat an enlarged prostate. Buckingham Palace says His Majesty sought treatment in common with thousands of men each year and that his condition is benign. The palace adds that the 75-year-old British sovereign’s public engagements will be postponed while he recuperates. This comes after it was confirmed that the Princess of Wales, Catherine, underwent a successful abdominal surgery, which will require her to be hospitalised for up to two weeks.

# Cricket: The Paarl Royals recorded their third consecutive victory, a seven-wicket bonus point win over the winless Joburg Super Kings in their SA20 match at Boland Park in Paarl. Leus du Plooy top-scored for the Super Kings with 71 as the visitors were dismissed for 134. The tournament’s leading wicket-taker Lungi Ngidi claimed three wickets. In reply, Jos Buttler scored an unbeaten 70 off 37 balls as the Royals cruised to victory and maintained their 100-percent record. Buttler says the challenge is to keep winning:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand and the euro at 20-rand-72-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-12-cents and Bitcoin trades at 42-thousand-629-dollars-97-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-10-dollars-68-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-93-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….