News 18:00

BULLETIN 28 January 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Activists and Citizens Forum accuses Cyril Ramaphosa of wasting public funds on commissions with no results
# The DA slams Kgosientsho Ramokgopa’s Eskom unbundling as a dangerous illusion
# And, FOSA welcomes the South African tourism industry’s growing contribution to the economy

# The Activists and Citizens Forum says president Cyril Ramaphosa must stop wasting taxpayers’ money on commissions of inquiry that deliver no results. They have renewed their call for the immediate dismissal of Police minister Senzo Mchunu. The forum’s Dennis Bloem says testimony presented before the Madlanga commission is sufficient reason for Mchunu to be fired, alleging he overstepped the law and instructed others to lie to the commission:

# The DA says Electricity and Energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa’s plan to unbundle Eskom is failing South Africans. The party argues keeping the power grid under Eskom blocks competition, drives up electricity prices, and risks 132-billion-rand in international energy funding. The DA’s Kevin Mileham says citizens need an independent and reliable electricity system, calling on president Cyril Ramaphosa to step in:

# The Forum for South Africa has welcomed Tourism minister Patricia de Lille’s reaffirmation that tourism remains a key driver of economic growth, investment and job creation in South Africa. The country’s tourism industry reached a record high in 2025, welcoming 10.48-million international tourists, a 17.6-percent increase from 2024. Currently, the industry sustains 1.8-million direct and indirect jobs. FOSA leader Tebogo Mashilompane says this achievement confirms tourism’s growing contribution to the economy:

# Keir Starmer has begun the first visit to China by a British prime minister since 2018, seeking to strengthen political and business ties amidst volatile relations between America and Western countries. The visit could mark a shift in ties between the two countries. For China, the visit offers a chance to portray itself as a stable and reliable partner during global disorder. European and other Western countries have engaged in a flurry of diplomacy with China as they hedge against unpredictability from US president Donald Trump.

# Tennis: World number two Iga Swiatek accused the media of treating players like animals in a zoo because of behind-the-scenes cameras at the Australian Open. Other Grand Slam tournaments have more restricted camera access. Swiatek reacted after American Coco Gauff was caught on camera smashing her raquet in the players’ area after losing to Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals yesterday. Another American, Jessica Pegula, also describes the constant filming as an invasion of privacy.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-92-cents and the euro at 19-rand-4-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-93-cents and Bitcoin trades at 90-thousand-33-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-261-dollars-56-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-30-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….