News 14:00

BULLETIN 16 January 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Persistent rains force Kruger National Park closures
# The FF Plus is to closely monitor the implementation of the foot-and-mouth disease plan
# And rugby: Japan plans to bid for the 2035 World Cup

# Persistent rainfall continues to affect Limpopo and Mpumalanga after SANParks was already forced to temporarily suspend day visitation to the Kruger National Park. Spokesperson JP Louw says access is limited to overnight guests, essential staff, delivery vehicles, and airport transfers with confirmed bookings. He adds all tourism activities are suspended, and northern areas remain inaccessible:

Meanwhile, the Department of Water and Sanitation has assured communities the Tzaneen Dam wall in Limpopo is not at risk despite heavy rainfall causing the dam to spill. The department denounced reports on social media about structural damage. The dam wall was temporarily lowered by four metres as part of an ongoing upgrade project, which currently allows excess water to flow safely. Engineers have confirmed there is no immediate threat to downstream communities, with the dam under continuous monitoring.

# The Freedom Front Plus vows to keep a close watch on the government’s foot-and-mouth disease plan after calling for a state of disaster. The party will continue applying political pressure to ensure the measures announced by Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen to contain the spread of the outbreak, are carried out effectively. The FF Plus’s Wynand Boshoff says many of these measures were already possible and recommended since 2021:

# Activists and Citizens Forum says almost all police members in Gauteng are allegedly part of criminal syndicates, echoing KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s earlier warnings. The forum’s Dennis Bloem calls on national commissioner Fannie Masemola to redeploy corrupt officials and bring in trustworthy personnel from other provinces. He urges the removal of known criminal officials, warning that society cannot be protected by police engaged in illegal activities:

# Rugby: Japan wants to host another World Cup after the success of the 2019 tournament, when the Springboks were crowned champions for the third time. The Asian country announced its intention to bid for the 2035 showpiece, submitting an expression of interest to World Rugby. The president of Japan Rugby, Masato Tsuchida, wants his country to hold the best World Cup ever. They may face opposition from Italy, Spain and the Middle East. The host country is expected to be announced late next year.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-39-cents and the euro at 19-rand-3-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-399-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-610-dollars-25-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-92-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….