News 07:00

BULLETIN 26 January 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says the ANC is committed to fixing local government
# Health Department says the ARV tender was deliberately awarded to multiple suppliers
# And, a US judge grants a temporary restraining order in the Alex Pretti case

# ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa says 2026 will be the year to fix local government and the economy. He delivered the closing address following the three-day national executive committee Lekgotla in Boksburg, Gauteng, on Sunday. The president emphasised that this is the year of action. Ramaphosa says the Lekgotla outlined specific tasks in the six priority areas identified by the National General Council:

Ramaphosa also says the party must be free of patronage, corruption, and factionalism. Party leaders from across the country met the last three to finalise an action plan to implement priorities outlined in the January 8 Statement. Ramaphosa says they need people with integrity and credibility to serve South Africans:

# The Health Department says the current antiretroviral tender was deliberately awarded to multiple suppliers as a risk-mitigation strategy to ensure continuity of supply across the country. Spokesperson Foster Mohale says this follows media reports regarding two suppliers awarded contracts under the current ARV tender who have since entered business rescue. He says the department immediately engaged with the two suppliers to establish the causes and expected timelines for resolution:

# The DA in KwaZulu-Natal has welcomed the opportunity to hear directly from the National Freedom Party regarding their concerns in the government of provincial unity, as well as their expectations to resume talks around the future of the GPU. The DA’s chairperson, Dean Macpherson, says it will be inviting the IFP, ANC, and NFP to a multiparty meeting to allow all parties to raise issues that are important to them as well as resolve outstanding differences:

# Federal judge Eric Tostrud in Minnesota has granted a temporary restraining order blocking federal agencies from destroying or altering evidence related to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a federal agent in Minneapolis. This includes evidence allegedly removed from the scene or taken into exclusive federal custody. Thirty-seven-year-old Pretti was killed by immigration enforcement officers as he tried to help a protester who was pushed to the ground by an agent. A hearing will be held today to look at objections and whether the order should remain in place.

# Golf: Zimbabwe’s Benjamin Follett-Smith captured the Cell C Challenge title with a one-shot victory over South Africa’s Haydn Porteous at the Killarney Country Club in Johannesburg. This is his third Sunshine Tour title. South Africa’s Kieron van Wyk finished third on 11 under par with a closing 70. The tournament was in honour of Gary Player. Follett-Smith says he is happy with his overall performance:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-8-cents and the euro at 19-rand-7-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-521-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-75-dollars-83-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-12-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….