News 11:00

BULLETIN 24 January 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Ramokgopa says poverty and inequality remain structural challenges
# The GOOD Party calls for an urgent investigation following the death of a grade 3 learner
# And motorsport: Ferrari unveils its 2026 car with Hamilton ready for a huge challenge

# Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation minister, Maropene Ramokgopa, says poverty and inequality remain structural challenges, and are compounded by slow growth, energy constraints, and global economic pressures. Ramokgopa was briefing the nation on government performance against the Medium-Term Development Plan 2024 to 2029 financial year. She says social protection continues to play a critical stabilising role for vulnerable households:

# Limpopo Transport and Community Safety Department is urging all scholar transport operators to prioritise learner safety and regularise their operations. Spokesperson Matome Moremi Taueatsoala says over 50 vehicles were impounded for non-compliance during safer scholar transport operations in Lebowakgomo and Mankweng yesterday. He says the department will continue to raise awareness and ensure compliance with scholar transport and traffic regulations to safeguard learners’ lives:

# The GOOD Party in the Western Cape is calling on Education MEC, David Maynier, and his department to urgently investigate the death of a grade three learner at Klapmuts Primary School.  The party says this heartbreaking incident, which occurred yesterday, has sent shockwaves through the Klapmuts community, leaving parents, learners, and residents deeply distressed and demanding answers from school management and authorities. GOOD’s Marius van Stade says accountability, transparency, and urgency are non-negotiable in a matter of this nature.

# Motorsport: Lewis Hamilton says he is bracing for the massive challenge of adapting to the seismic change in technical regulations facing the 2026 Formula One grid as Ferrari unveiled their new car yesterday. The seven-time world champion and his teammate Charles Leclerc put the SF-26 through its paces at the Scuderia’s Fiorano private test track near their Maranello headquarters. Hamilton has admitted that the last time cars were radically changed in 2022, they did not suit his driving style.

# Tennis: Australian Open defending champion Madison Keys raised her game in the Melbourne Park heat earlier today to beat Karolina Pliskova 6-3 6-3 and reach the fourth round of the Grand Slam. On a day when the weather forecast was to hit 40 degrees Celsius, American Keys avoided the worst of the conditions as she dismantled the Czech in 75 minutes. The ninth seed will now meet fellow Florida-based American Jessica Pegula, who similarly coasted into the last 16 with a 6-3 6-2 win over Russian Oksana Selekhmeteva.

# And finally: The Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment has noted in certain communities that transformer and electrical oils are being used for personal applications. They urge the public to refrain from this practice, as such oils may contain toxic chemicals posing serious health risks. A department spokesperson, Michael Makoena, says that during engagements with municipalities, it noted dangerous misconceptions in some communities, including the belief that transformer oil can be used for treating conditions such as rheumatic arthritis.

Stay tuned for more news………….