News 09:00

BULLETIN 16 January 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA blames the government’s failure to curb the illicit cigarette trade for the closure of British American Tobacco’s plant in South Africa
# Cosatu supports minister Creecy’s call for a total ban on drinking and driving 
# And, the Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado gives her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Donald Trump

# ActionSA has expressed concern at the decision by British American Tobacco South Africa to stop making cigarettes in the country by the end of this year. It will close its manufacturing plant in Heidelberg, Gauteng, blaming policy failures and the illicit market for making legal manufacturing economically impossible. The closure threatens about 230 jobs. ActionSA says this decision by BATSA is a direct consequence of the government’s sustained failure to combat the illicit tobacco trade and enforce its own tax and customs laws.

# The Congress of South African Trade Unions welcomes Transport minister Barbara Creecy’s call to amend the National Traffic Act, to institute a total ban on drinking and driving. The minister raised alarm over a sharp rise in festive season drunk driving arrests, which increased by 144-percent compared to the previous year. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says introducing a total ban on drinking and driving, including pedestrians, is an urgent necessity:

# The Department of Water and Sanitation says 14 of Limpopo’s 19 dams are now over 100-percent full following persistent heavy rainfall. The Modjadji, Nsami, Glen Alpine, and Ebenezer dams are among those affected, with several releasing water to manage levels. The department’s Wisane Mavasa urged residents to remain cautious as high water levels continue to pose risks to communities and infrastructure:

# The Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado says she presented US president Donald Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal during a private meeting at the White House. She received the award last year for her struggle against president Nicolás Maduro’s brutal, authoritarian state. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the move was a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Machado told reporters that the people of Venezuela can count on Trump:

# Golf: World number two Rory McIlroy has made a strong start to his 2026 season, as he leads the Dubai Invitational by one stroke after firing an opening round five-under 66 in the United Arab Emirates. Scotsman Connor Syme and Spaniard David Puig are tied behind the Northern Irishman in second place. Defending champion from England, Tommy Fleetwood, is three back in a tie for ninth in a large group including American Patrick Reed and Ireland’s Shane Lowry.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-33-cents and the euro at 18-rand-96-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-86-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-443-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-600-dollars-12-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-11-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….