News 12:00

BULLETIN 26 January 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Government’s solar panel incentive nears expiry despite calls for an extension
# ActionSA formally lodges a complaint to the Human Rights Commission against WesBank 
# And tennis: Jannik Sinner stuns Novak Djokovic to make his first Grand Slam final

# The government’s solar panel incentive, introduced last year to promote renewable energy use, is set to expire on 29 February. The incentive offers a 25-percent rebate of up to 15-thousand-rand for new solar panels brought into use by that date. Despite calls for an extension and expansion to include batteries and inverters, National Treasury has stuck to its guns, emphasising the urgency of solar installations. Solar providers, meanwhile, assure interested households installations can still be completed on time, offering a streamlined process from quote to documentation.

# ActionSA says it has officially lodged a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission to investigate Wesbank. This is over allegations that the finance provider is using a specific system to overcharge black clients. Wesbank has refuted allegations of discrimination against customers based on race, gender, or age. ActionSA’s spokesperson, Lerato Ngobeni, says they cannot condone nor tolerate the covert racism the bank represents:

# A change in wind direction is hampering efforts to control the Kluitjieskraal fire near Wolseley in the Cape Winelands District Municipality in the Western Cape. The fire in the Suurvlakte area split into two lines, one line on the Wolseley side of the Obiqua Mountains and another on the Wellington side. The municipality’s spokesperson, Jo-Anne Otto, says the fire on Wolseley’s side in the Verrekyker area just above Kluitjieskraal moved rapidly toward agricultural land containing a variety of structures, including formal and informal homes:

# Namibia’s minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, has disclosed forthcoming development initiatives for the year. According to ministry spokesperson Julius Ngweda, plans entail securing loans from the Southern Africa Development Bank and the Development Bank of Namibia for procuring new station wagons. Additionally, a 756-million-rand investment loan has been earmarked for renovating the Katutura State Hospital. Ngweda says these initiatives aim to enhance transportation infrastructure and healthcare facilities:

# Tennis: Italy’s Jannik Sinner is through to his first career Grand Slam final after beating ten-time champion Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinals. The 22-year-old defeated the Serb 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 in Melbourne. Sinner could rise to a career-high of number three if he wins his first major title on Sunday, and Russia’s Daniil Medvedev loses to Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the other semifinal.

Stay tuned for more news………….