News 17:00

BULLETIN 20 January 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Robert McBride calls for greater independence of police watchdogs
# SALGA appeals for safety improvements after the learner transport tragedy
# And tennis: Gael Monfils exits to a standing ovation at his Australian Open farewell

# The former head of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, Robert McBride, says the watchdog should be moved away from the minister of Police to ensure true independence. McBride argues the minister oversees the same department IPID investigates, thereby creating potential interference. McBride also criticised the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s continued placement under SAPS, citing lack of structural and budgetary independence. He called for urgent legislative reforms to strengthen anti-corruption bodies:

# The South African Local Government Association has expressed deep sorrow following the deaths of 12 learners in the Vanderbijlpark school transport tragedy yesterday. SALGA’s Sebang Motlhabi extends condolences to the families, friends, and communities affected by the accident. Motlhabi calls for strict adherence to scholar transport safety regulations to prevent further loss of young lives and urges authorities to ensure accountability:

# The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate says it is continuing its efforts to reduce water losses through focused daily operations. This is amid below-average rainfall and increased water demand during the hot summer. Between July 2024 and November 2025, the Directorate attended to an average of 346 water pipe bursts per month. Mayoral committee member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, says protecting the metro’s water supply is a shared responsibility:

# American president Donald Trump says the UK’s plan to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius is an act of great stupidity. He says the deal in which the UK would lease a military base on the territory while handing over sovereignty, is one of the reasons he wants the US to take over Greenland. The deal was first announced in late 2024 and signed last May. At the time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a monumental achievement.

# Tennis: French entertainer Gael Monfils was bundled out of the Australian Open by local qualifier Dane Sweeny in a four-set epic lasting nearly four hours. There was an on-court presentation and standing ovation afterwards for the 39-year-old, one of the most colourful and popular men’s players. He has won 13 ATP titles in a career stretching back to 2004, and in October said this year would be his last. Monfils married Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina in 2021 and they welcomed a daughter, Skai, a year later.

And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-44-cents and the euro at 19-rand-28-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-10-cents and Bitcoin trades at 91-thousand-048-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-723-dollars-53-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-82-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….