News 08:00

BULLETIN 13 January 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The government says the matric results reflect a positive growth in learner performance
# Jacob Zuma reshuffles the MK Party’s officials again
# And, Donald Trump to impose 25-percent tariffs on countries that do business with Iran

# Government has congratulated the Class of 2025 on achieving a National Senior Certificate pass rate of 88-percent, marking the highest pass rate in the country. KwaZulu-Natal topped the rankings with a pass rate of 90.6-percent. Deputy Government spokesperson, William Baloyi, says this achievement reflects positive growth in learner performance and is a clear indication of the hard work and resilience demonstrated by learners throughout their schooling journey. He adds that they are mindful of learners who did not pass:

Meanwhile, the DA says it welcomes Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube’s honest and evidence-based analysis of what the matric results show about the education system. The DA’s Nazley Sharif says of concern is the learner drop out between Grade 10 and Grade 12, as well as persistent performance difficulties in key gateway subjects such as mathematics and physical sciences:

# MK Party leader Jacob Zuma has made another round of changes to the leadership of the party. Treasurer General Mpiyakhe Limba has been removed from his position and replaced by longtime Zuma ally Brian Molefe. Colleen Makhubele has been relieved of her duties as the party’s chief whip in Parliament and will be replaced in an interim capacity by National Council of Provinces whip, Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi. The MK Party says the changes have been made in the best interests of strengthening the movement and advancing its political mandate.

# President Donald Trump has warned that any country that does business with Iran will face a tariff rate of 25-percent on trade with the US. This comes as he has threatened US military intervention to rescue anti-government protesters in Iran. China is Iran’s largest trading partners, followed by Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and India. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the tariff would take effect immediately, without defining what qualifies as “doing business” with Iran.

# Cricket: The Pretoria Capitals thrashed defending champions MI Cape Town by 53 runs in their SA20 clash in Centurion. Sherfane Rutherford scored 53 off 27 balls, his maiden half-century in the competition, as the homeside posted 185 for six. In reply, despite Reeza Hendricks’ unbeaten 68, the visitors were restricted to 132 for seven, with Gideon Peters taking three wickets. The bonus-point victory has propelled the Pretoria Capitals to the top of the SA20 table, while MI Cape Town remains at the bottom.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-40-cents and the euro at 19-rand-13-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-10-cents and Bitcoin trades at 91-thousand-176-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-596-dollars-87-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-66-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….