News 16:00

BULLETIN 9 January 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A defence analyst warns a naval exercise exposes the SA Navy’s weaknesses
# Umalusi approves the Independent Examinations Board’s release of exam results
# And rugby: The Cheetahs and the Lions hope to get their Challenge Cup season back on track this weekend

# Defence analyst Helmut Heitman says South Africa’s participation in naval exercises with China, Russia and Iran in Cape Town highlights serious limitations within the South African Navy. He describes the drill as a basic passage exercise, not advanced war-fighting. Heitman notes only one frigate is seaworthy, but not combat-ready, with outdated systems. He adds that poor maintenance and the lack of maritime patrol aircraft weaken capacity, while ties with Russia and Iran risk straining relations with key Western trade partners.

# The statutory body for Quality Assurance in Education and Training, Umalusi, has commended the Independent Examinations Board for successfully administering the General Education and Training Certificate, Adult Basic Education and Training and the National Senior Certificate examinations. Chairperson Yunus Ballim said no systemic irregularities were found that could compromise credibility. The council approved the release of results but advised the IEB to withhold results of candidates implicated in irregularities:

# The Overstrand Municipality in the Western Cape has called for the immediate evacuation of residents in Die Kop informal settlement in Stanford as wildfires intensify. Three major fires are burning in the Overberg, affecting Stanford, Pearly Beach and Greyton, with additional blazes in Mossel Bay and Tsitsikamma in the Southern Cape. The Stanford fire, burning in dense, inaccessible vegetation, remains out of control. A helicopter has been deployed to support firefighting efforts.

# The Forum for South Africa is calling for a transparent report detailing all pollution sources in Mossel Bay’s Hartenbos Estuary. According to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, the mass fish deaths reported were driven by a combination of environmental stressors, including elevated nutrient levels, reduced freshwater inflow and the presence of harmful algal blooms. FOSA leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, welcomes confirmation that the situation is now under control:

# Rugby: The Lions and the Cheetahs hope to turn their Challenge Cup season around when they face European competitors this weekend. The South African teams are still winless after the first two rounds of the season. The Lions face French team Lyon at home in Johannesburg tomorrow afternoon, while the Cheetahs play Irish side Ulster in Amsterdam in the Netherlands on Sunday. But that encounter is in doubt because of Storm Goretti which is expected to bring snow to the whole of Europe this weekend.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-57-cents and the euro at 19-rand-29-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-22-cents and Bitcoin trades at 90-thousand-280-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-464-dollars-10-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-29-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….