News 13:00

BULLETIN 15 February 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Ethiopian prime minister calls for Africa’s functional sovereignty at the AU Summit
# The Transport Department in KwaZulu-Natal probes a fraudulent roadworthy certificate for learner transport
# And tennis: Australia’s Destanee Aiava slams the ‘hostile’ tennis culture in a retirement post

# Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged African leaders to move from foundational unity to functional sovereignty at the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa. Ahmed stressed self-reliance, economic and technological ownership, and proactive global engagement. He highlighted Africa’s need for a confident, united AU, and strategic positioning to shape the continent’s future:

Meanwhile, the Angolan President and outgoing African Union chairperson João Lourenço called for accelerated action on water security and sanitation during the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Lourenço highlighted progress on Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area. He also stressed the need to silence conflicts in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Lourenço also handed over  the 2026 chairmanship to Burundi’s president, Évariste Ndayishimiye. He wished Ndayishimiye success in advancing unity, solidarity, peace, stability and inclusive development across the continent.

# South Africans have until the end of day today to send their public comment on the Draft Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection. The Department of Home Affairs extended submissions from 31 January to boost participation. Proposals include a points-based citizenship system, new skilled worker and start-up visas, and an Intelligent Population Register. Reforms also cover quotas, specialised immigration courts and administrative fines for overstayers. Submissions will be reviewed before the draft is tabled in Parliament.

# The KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements Department has launched a probe into the alleged fraudulent issuing of a roadworthy certificate to an unroadworthy scholar transport taxis. This follows heightened concern after the Vanderbijlpark crash that claimed 14 lives. A Pietermaritzburg-registered vehicle was cleared in the Eastern Cape and later found carrying 23 learners instead of 16. Spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya says compliance checks and due diligence are ongoing province-wide:

# ActionSA has condemned the City of Johannesburg’s continued use of estimated billing, calling it unfair and inaccurate. The party says residents are being disconnected despite active billing disputes, with payments often not reflecting on accounts. ActionSA has vowed strict oversight of the City’s 70-million-rand billing system upgrade and is demanding an end to estimated billing, protection for disputed accounts, and urgent resolution of queries.

# And, tennis: Australian player Destanee Aiava earlier today announced her impending retirement from tennis and claimed the sport had a “racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile” culture. She described tennis as her “toxic boyfriend” and said she was looking forward to a fresh start. Aiava has Samoan heritage and reached a career-high singles ranking of 133 and has often been the target for online trolls. The former junior prodigy said although she was grateful for the opportunity to travel the world and makes friends, tennis also harmed her health, her family and her self-worth.

Stay tuned for more news………….