News 06:00

BULLETIN 19 January 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Severe weather conditions and widespread flooding have led to a national disaster being declared in five provinces
# RISE Mzansi backs the Treasury’s online gambling tax extension
# And, the UK and its European allies warn against Trump’s Greenland threat

# Government has declared the deadly widespread flooding in five provinces a National Disaster. The National Disaster Management Centre says this is after assessing the magnitude and severity of the severe weather that resulted in damaging surface winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding from late December 2025 in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and North West. Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, says all organs of state across the three spheres of government are now required to strengthen support to disaster management structures.

Meanwhile, the South African Local Government Association has called for accelerated national action to support municipalities facing escalating climate-related disasters. Recent floods, storms, and wildfires have destroyed property, livelihoods, and claimed over 30 lives. SALGA Emergency Services and Disaster Management Working Group chairperson, Mluleki Nkosi, warns that outdated systems leave municipalities under-resourced. He urges modernised disaster management and upgrading of infrastructure, early-warning systems, risk mapping, and community education:

# RISE Mzansi has welcomed the National Treasury’s extension of the public comment deadline on the proposed online gambling tax from 30 January to 27 February 2026. The party urges South Africans to have their say on reforms addressing the gambling industry’s impact on lives and livelihoods. RISE Mzansi’s Makashule Gana stresses the need for stronger regulations, warning that gambling has never created prosperity and reforms are crucial to protect communities:

# Gauteng Agriculture MEC Vuyiswa Ramakgopa says urgent measures are underway to contain foot-and-mouth disease, with 173 cases recorded and Germiston, east of Johannesburg, is the hardest hit. Nationally, the outbreak is raising concerns for the livestock industry. Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen has blamed vaccine shortages, weak borders, and under-reporting. Ramakgopa says Gauteng has redirected 16-million-rand to procure vaccines and tighten livestock movement controls. She urges farmers to strengthen biosecurity

# Eight European countries say the threats from US president Donald Trump against Greenland undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. Trump says he is considering enacting tariffs against countries that oppose a US annexation of Greenland. In a joint statement, the leaders of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK say they stand in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland. The group states that it stands ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

# Tennis: World number one Carlos Alcaraz of Spain began his quest to complete the career Grand Slam with a 6-3, 7-6, 6-2 win over local Adam Walton at the Australian Open. Third seed German Alexander Zverev beat Canadian Gabriel Diallo, 6-7, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, and there were also wins for Britain’s Cameron Norrie and American Frances Tiafoe. In the women’s draw, top seed Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka beat French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, 6-4, 6-1, while seven-time major singles champion Venus Williams and Russian eleventh seed Ekaterina Alexandrova were knocked out.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-41-cents and the euro at 19-rand-7-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 93-thousand-250-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-669-dollars-19-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-39-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….