News 09:00

BULLETIN 29 January 9 am

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In this bulletin:

# The DA demands a parliamentary debate on the film industry crisis
# Minister Cachalia calls for enhanced police deployment in the Sporong settlement
# And, the US Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady

# The DA has called for a debate of national importance in Parliament to urgently address the crisis facing South Africa’s film and television industry. On Wednesday, film and television professionals protested outside Parliament, accusing the state of crippling their industry. Marching under the Save SA Film Jobs banner, the group called for immediate government intervention to address the sector’s current instability. The DA’s Toby Chance says the non-payment of 663-million-rand in rebates owed to the industry professionals is unacceptable:

# The South African National Energy Development Institute has proposed including electricity in the list of products zero-rated for value-added tax. Net revenue from VAT totalled 457.8-billion-rand in the 2024/2025 fiscal period. The institute’s professor Sampson Mamphweli says the prospect of a VAT zero-rating can shave off 15-percent from the price, which will become an immediate saving to the consumers. He also suggests that negotiations with the coal suppliers should be prioritised in an effort to reduce coal costs.

# Acting Police minister Firoz Cachalia has called for more deployment of law enforcement officers in the Sporong informal settlement near Randfontein in Gauteng. He, together with Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi and National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, visited the informal settlement on Wednesday. Police ministry’s spokesperson Kamogelo Mogotsi says during Lesufi’s previous visit, short-term measures were implemented to stabilise the area, including the deployment of nyalas and additional police officers to ensure the safety and security of residents:

# The US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell has stressed the importance of the central bank’s independence to ensure monetary policy is not leveraged for political gain. Policymakers voted 10-2 to hold the central bank’s benchmark interest rate in the 3.5-percent to 3.75-percent range following a two-day meeting. President Donald Trump has frequently criticised Powell for not cutting rates quickly enough. Powell says he and his colleagues are strongly committed to maintaining the central bank’s independence:

# Soccer: Arsenal recorded their eighth victory in the Champions League to become the first team to finish the league phase with a 100-percent record. The Gunners defeated Kairat Almaty 3-2. Four other English clubs, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur, are through to the round of 16 following victories in their respective matches on Wednesday. Meanwhile, defending champions Paris St-Germain were held to a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United as both teams qualify for the knockout phase play-offs.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-69-cents and the euro at 18-rand-80-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-69-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-874-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-537-dollars-44-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-12-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….