News 06:00

BULLETIN 9 January 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Julius Malema demands that Paul O’Sullivan and Brown Mogotsi appear in person before Parliament
# Raging fires in the Kouga Municipality result in evacuation orders
# And motorsport: Henk Lategan is still in the lead after stage 5 of the Dakar

# EFF leader Julius Malema insists that forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan and businessman Brown Mogotsi must appear in person before Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating alleged interference in the justice system. Both had requested to testify virtually, citing safety concerns. The committee, running alongside the Madlanga commission, aims to conclude hearings by early next month. Malema argues accountability cannot be compromised:

# Aluma Capital economist Frederick Mitchell says the South African Reserve Bank may cut the repo rate by 25 basis points, from 6.75-percent to 6.5-percent, at its Monetary Policy Committee meeting on 29 January. The potential reduction comes as the rand strengthens, inflation remains under control, and oil prices fall. Mitchell states that a rate cut could boost spending and investment without triggering inflation, helping South Africa’s economy amid ongoing global uncertainties.

# The Kouga Municipality in the Eastern Cape was forced to issue an urgent evacuation order for residents in Zwartenbosch, Oyster Bay Road, and the Kromme River areas yesterday afternoon. This follows raging and uncontrolled fires, which were brought under control on Wednesday, but reignited due to strong winds. Kouga Municipality mayor, Hattingh Bornman, says firefighters are focused on preventing the further spread of the fires:

# US president Donald Trump said he would seek to raise the military budget to 1.5-trillion-dollar, equal to about 24.6-trillion-rand, in 2027, saying there are troubled and dangerous times ahead. This is a massive increase of almost 50-percent on the current year’s defence budget of 900-billion-dollar or 14.8 trillion-rand. Announcing his proposal, Trump wrote in a social media post that it would allow the US to build the dream military that he said they had long been entitled to and that would keep America safe and secure, regardless of foe.

# Motorsport: Despite navigational problems during yesterday’s 5th stage of the Dakar Rally, causing Henk Lategan to lose almost 13 minutes, the South African is still in the overall lead of the rally in Saudi Arabia. He is facing serious opposition from the four Ford Raptor drivers, Mattias Ekstrom, Nani Roma, Carlos Sainz, and impressive young American Mitch Guthrie. The last special stage of 300 kilometres of dunes takes place today.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-50-cents and the euro at 19-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-17-cents and Bitcoin trades at 91-thousand-170-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-479-dollars-87-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-35-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….