News 09:00

BULLETIN 29 January 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# RISE Mzansi vows to not bend to intimidation
# The EFF is heading to court to challenge sanctions against six of its members of Parliament
# And, Cape Winelands firefighters continue to battle fires in the Breede Valley and Witzenberg

# RISE Mzansi says it will not bend to intimidation as it is an alternative to the political establishment that has failed to build a safe, prosperous, equal, and united South Africa. This comes as the party’s organisers and volunteers are being threatened and election posters destroyed across the country. RISE Mzansi’s, Makashule Gana, says the party has shaken the political establishment; and as a result, they have resorted to dirty tactics to suppress this growing movement:

# The Western Cape High Court will hear the EFF’s case today, challenging the sanctions against six of its members of Parliament including leader Julius Malema. The members were found guilty of being in contempt of Parliament after they stormed the stage during president Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address last year. Effective from Thursday the members will be suspended for one month without pay. Parliament’s spokesperson Moloto Mothapo says they will oppose the EFF’s court bid, adding that they have a very solid case.

# Fires in Breede Valley and Witzenberg, in the Cape Winelands district, continue to burn out of control. However, cooler night temperatures and lack of wind resulted in better outcomes on both fires. Cape Winelands District Municipality’s Jo-Anne Otto says the hot, dry weather combined with the available fuel of aged fynbos, alien vegetation, or a combination of both is perfect for fires. She says there are two active fire lines, in the Bain’s Kloof/Slanghoek and Elandsberg:

# The DA in Gauteng is urging the provincial Department of Education to require schools to implement all necessary precautions, to ensure the safety of learners during school outings. This follows the passing of Latoya Temilton, a Grade Seven learner from Laerskool Queenswood in Pretoria, who drowned during a school excursion. The DA’s, Sergio dos Santos, says while they welcome the department’s decision to launch an independent investigation into the incident, they are deeply concerned that school outings have become unsafe:

# Soccer: The Democratic Republic of Congo knocked out seven-time champions Egypt to reach the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals. After a one-all draw following extra time, Congo edged out Egypt eight-seven on penalties at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in the Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, Mohamed Bayo scored in the 98th minute as Guinea recorded a one-nil victory over ten-man Equatorial Guinea, to make the last eight for the first time since 2015. Guinea will take on DR Congo in Abidjan on Friday for a place in the semifinals.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-97-cents and the euro at 20-rand-36-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 42-thousand-216-dollars-41-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-25-dollars-93-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-43-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….