News 08:00

BULLETIN 10 January 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The seven accused in the AKA and Tibz murders are transferred to a high-security prison
# Minister Macpherson terminates the Medicare 24 Tshwane District lease agreement
# And the next US ambassador promises to address Pretoria’s geostrategic drift

# The seven men charged with the 2023 murders of rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and businessman Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane have been moved to the eBongweni high-security prison in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal. The transfers reportedly occurred earlier this month. eBongweni is known for housing high-risk inmates. Two of the accused, brothers Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande, appeared in camera in the Durban Magistrate’s Court. Their case has been postponed to the fourth of March. The brothers have requested the court to transfer them to Westville prison for access to lawyers.

# The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has issued a warning about certain health products for children that contain selenium and zinc picolinate. These ingredients are not permitted in health supplements for anyone under the age of 18-years due to safety concerns. SAHPRA’s Yuven Gounden says Zinc picolinate may cause side effects such as nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting, while selenium carries a risk of overdose in children:

# Public Works and Infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson has terminated with immediate effect the lease agreement with Medicare 24 Tshwane District. The company is linked to Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, following serious allegations relating to the controversial awarding of the lease. An internal investigation found the property had not been declared surplus by SAPS, making the lease unlawful. Macpherson vowed a full probe to hold officials accountable and hand over potential criminal evidence to law enforcement. He emphasised the prevention of abuse of public funds, ensuring state assets serve the public good.

# The Economic Freedom Fighters in Gauteng has condemned 594-million-rand in irregular expenditure by the Gauteng Department of Education for overpriced mobile classrooms. The party’s Dumisani Baleni says this mismanagement worsens the province’s overcrowding crisis, leaving four-thousand-858 learners unplaced. He says the EFF demands an end to inflated temporary infrastructure contracts and calls for the accelerated construction of permanent schools:

# The newly sworn-in US ambassador-designate to South Africa, Leo Brent Bozell, says he will address Pretoria’s geostrategic drift toward countries such as China, Russia, and Iran. Bozell will officially take up his duties after presenting his credentials to president Cyril Ramaphosa. The US Embassy says it looks forward to his leadership in advancing American priorities and strengthening ties with South Africa. His appointment comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between Washington and Pretoria.

# And soccer: Hosts Morocco kept their dream of winning the Africa Cup of Nations in front of their own fans alive with a 2-0 victory over Cameroon in the quarterfinals last night, while Senegal saw off neighbours Mali to reach the last four. Winger Brahim Diaz scored in the first half to put Morocco in front against Cameroon at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, and Ismael Saibari sealed the win in the second half. Morocco has not seen their team in the semifinal of an AFCON for 22 years. 

Stay tuned for more news………….