News 06:00

BULLETIN 27 January 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa calls for a renewed focus on investment and infrastructure development
# Business Leadership SA says reform gains give South Africa leverage
# And, Ace Magashule is unhappy with the continuous delays in the asbestos corruption trial

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for renewed focus on investment and infrastructure development. The government has committed more than one-trillion-rand of public funds for infrastructure projects over the next three years. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa says government has already laid a strong foundation for increased infrastructure investment by streamlining regulations, facilitating public-private partnerships, and strengthening institutions such as Infrastructure South Africa. He adds that the Cabinet’s upcoming annual Lekgotla will outline the actions that will be taken across government and with social partners to achieve certain goals. 

# Business Leadership South Africa says the government’s continued domestic reforms will only lead to lasting jobs and investment. In her weekly newsletter, CEO Busisiwe Mavuso said progress in electricity, logistics, local government, and the criminal justice system is critical to turn growing international credibility into long-term economic growth. Mavuso added that recent achievements, including stable power supply and logistics reforms, have improved investor confidence, but warns that sustained delivery at home will determine whether investment translates into real jobs and economic recovery.

# Covert crime intelligence operative Witness E has told the Madlanga Commission yesterday that Police minister Senzo Mchunu asked if Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo was involved in the 2017 killing of former ANC Youth League Secretary-General, Sindiso Magaqa. Witness E said he explicitly informed Mchunu that Khumalo was not in KwaZulu-Natal, and only joined Crime Intelligence after the murder. He clarified that all details about subsequent investigations and statements to senior officials:

# Former Free State premier Ace Magashule has expressed frustration at the continued delays in his asbestos corruption trial. He and 16 of his co-accused are facing fraud and corruption charges linked to a dodgy 255-million-rand tender for the replacement of asbestos roofs in the Free State. They appeared in the Bloemfontein High Court on Monday, where the case was postponed to March 2. Magashule maintains that the multiple postponements are placing a financial strain on the accused:

# South Sudan’s military has ordered all civilians to evacuate three counties in Jonglei State ahead of an operation there against opposition forces. All personnel from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and those working for non-governmental organisations were also ordered to evacuate the three counties within 48 hours. Some of the fiercest fighting since 2017 has taken place in Jonglei, located in the country’s east on the border with Ethiopia. The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces is seeking to halt an offensive by fighters loyal to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition.

# Cricket: Pretoria Capitals’ captain, Keshav Maharaj, believes the SA20’s highest-paid player, Dewald Brevis, will be someone to reckon with in the T20 World Cup, starting in India and Sri Lanka next Saturday. He displayed terrific form in the latter stages of the competition, including hitting a century in the final against Sunrisers Eastern Cape. That took his total number of runs to 370. Maharaj, who was his captain, says 22-year-old Brevis has shown maturity in the last few games and could only improve from there.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-1-cents and the euro at 19-rand-2-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 88-thousand-57-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-9-dollars-88-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-83-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….