News 17:00

BULLETIN 28 January 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Party says Brown Mogotsi is to be subpoenaed by the ad hoc committee
# The Department of Transport in Limpopo impounds 25 vehicles in a back-to-school safety drive
# And rugby: Ben-Jason Dixon says the Sharks did the Stormers a favour by beating them in Cape Town

# The MK Party ad hoc committee member David Skosana says North West businessman Brown Mogotsi will be subpoenaed after refusing to testify tomorrow, demanding Parliament fund his protection. Skosana also insisted private investigator Paul O’Sullivan must appear and respect the rule of law. Speaking to SABC News, he warned no witness will be allowed to undermine the committee, as they race against time before the committee wraps up on 20 February:

Meanwhile, the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution executive director, Lawson Naidoo, says the committee is being undermined by political interests. Naidoo warns that the committee is acting in a partisan manner, accusing some members of political grandstanding, citing differing lines of questioning. He added that it’s crucial for O’Sullivan to appear to clarify his role and the allegations against him amid investigations of political interference and corruption in the justice system.

# The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety yesterday conducted safer back-to-school operations in Thabazimbi CBD and the Capricorn District in Limpopo. Department spokesperson Matome Taueatsoala says officers checked 86 vehicles, issuing 13 summonses and impounding 10 vehicles in Thabazimbi and 15 in Mphahlele. He says the department emphasises learner safety, including urging learner transport operators to comply with permit requirements:

# The administration of US president Donald Trump has told global vaccine group Gavi to phase out shots containing the preservative thimerosal as a condition of providing the group with funding. According to Reuters this is another effort to influence global health policy. Anti-vaccine groups have for decades claimed the mercury-based preservative is linked to autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, despite many studies showing no related safety issues. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Junior, who has long promoted anti-vaccine views, says Gavi ignores safety issues with its vaccines.

# Rugby: The Stormers’ Springbok loose forward, Ben-Jason Dixon, admits their loss to the Sharks in last weekend’s United Rugby Championship match in Cape Town had been a wake-up call. They were undefeated up to that time, but lost their place at the top of the log after losing 30-19. The Sharks improved from 14th to 11th place. Dixon says this served a bigger purpose, getting the undefeated label off their backs and realising they need to improve. The two teams meet again this coming weekend – in Durban this time.

And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-87-cents and the euro at 19-rand-1-cent. One British pound costs 21-rand-88-cents and Bitcoin trades at 89-thousand-947-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-284-dollars-10-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-1-cent a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….