News 14:00

BULLETIN 20 January 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Gauteng Education Department confirms the driver in the Vanderbijlpark crash is in custody
# Foot-and-mouth disease cases rise in the Free State
# And tennis: Sinner waltzes into the Australian Open second round while Monfils leaves for the final time

# The Gauteng Education says the driver involved in the Vanderbijlpark learner transport crash is apparently in police custody. Spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed that 12 learners died and one is still to be identified. He confirmed three learners remain in ICU, one in a private facility and two in public hospitals, while one injured learner has been discharged:

# Foot-and-mouth disease cases in the Free State have risen sharply, with 29 new infections confirmed, bringing the total to 223. The provincial Agriculture Department says several outbreak areas have been identified, prompting strict quarantines and movement restrictions on nearby farms. Suspected cases are also under investigation in the Xhariep District. Authorities have secured 130-thousand vaccine doses and warn non-compliance with biosecurity rules could worsen the outbreak.

# Singer, humanitarian and founder of the Princess of Africa Foundation, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, is calling on South Africans to support families affected by severe flooding in Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Many residents have lost homes, jobs and personal belongings, while children are unable to attend school. The foundation, in partnership with the holistic wellness organisation Above Normal, are calling for donations of food, clothing and essential items, but Chaka Chaka adds monetary contributions are not requested:

Meanwhile, the International Red Cross says more than 620-thousand people have been affected and over 72-thousand houses were flooded in widespread floods in Mozambique. Damage was caused to roads, bridges and health centres in several districts. The Red Cross’s Programme and Operations Manager, Rachel Fowler, told Reuters rains are still expected to continue for the coming days, and dams are already at full capacity, so the situation could worsen, placing further people at risk. South Africa has deployed an Air Force helicopter to assist with rescue operations.

# Tennis: Defending champion and second seed Jannik Sinner waltzed through to the second round of the Australian Open. The Italian led Hugo Gaston two sets to love when the Frenchman retired hurt. Another Frenchman, Gael Monfils, received a warm farewell when his tournament ended in the first round. The 39-year-old, who announced earlier this would be his final year on tour, lost in four sets to local qualifier Dane Sweeney. Eighth-seeded American Ben Shelton saw off the challenge of Ugo Humbert of France in straight sets.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-43-cents and the euro at 19-rand-26-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-14-cents and Bitcoin trades at 91-thousand-102-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-731-dollars-41-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-41-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….