News 06:00

BULLETIN 29 January 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The minister in the Presidency emphasises the government’s key priorities
# Minister Groenewald orders the review of the Griekwastad murderer’s parole
# And, ActionSA calls for an internal appointment after Kieswetter’s exit

# Minister in the Presidency Khumbuzo Ntshavheni says the work of the seventh administration is guided by the Medium-Term Development Plan 2024-2029. This is in pursuit of three key priorities: driving inclusive economic growth and job creation; reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living; and building a capable, ethical, and developmental state. President Cyril Ramaphosa convened an extended two-day Cabinet Lekgotla in Pretoria on Wednesday. Ntshavheni says the meeting assesses plans and priorities for the year:

# Minister of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald, has ordered a review of the parole placement of the Griekwastad murderer. This comes after the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board in Upington approved the unidentified offender’s parole placement with effect from March 2026, until the expiry of his sentence on 13 March 2034. He was convicted of killing three members of the Steenkamp family in their Northern Cape home in 2012. The department’s spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo, says the parole decision is suspended pending the outcome of the review:

# ActionSA is urging president Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint the next South African Revenue Services commissioner from within the agency to protect stability after Edward Kieswetter’s departure in mid-2026. The party says internal leadership would preserve institutional memory and reform momentum. ActionSA has praised Kieswetter for restoring governance and boosting revenue collection, now exceeding two-trillion-rand annually. It also wants an independent, apolitical selection panel, warning that politicised appointments could undermine SARS credibility and threaten fiscal sustainability.

# KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Lesetja Senona has told the Madlanga commission he cut ties with alleged tender tycoon Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Senona denies using his position to benefit Matlala or secure government contracts, including a 360-million-rand police healthcare tender. He told the commission he ended his association with Matlala after becoming aware of the businessman’s alleged dangerous nature:

# A South Korean court sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to 20-months in jail for accepting Chanel bags and a diamond pendant from Unification Church officials in return for political favours. The wife of ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted last year, was cleared on other charges of stock price manipulation and violating the Political Funds Act. The ruling comes amid a series of trials stemming from investigations into Yoon’s brief imposition of martial law in 2024 and related scandals involving the once-powerful couple.

# Rugby: Veteran French prop Uini Atonia was forced to retire immediately after suffering a heart attack. He withdrew from his club, La Rochelle’s match against Clermont on Sunday, after experiencing chest pain during warm-up. The 35-year-old New Zealand-born player is in stable condition in a local hospital. Atonia played 68 Tests for his adopted country since 2014 and was included in coach Fabien Galthie’s initial squad for the defence of their Six Nations title. He won two Six Nations titles for France.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-75-cents and the euro at 18-rand-84-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-75-cents and Bitcoin trades at 89-thousand-168-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-440-dollars-38-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-45-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….