News 15:00

BULLETIN 31 January 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasises that election rigging is impossible in South Africa
# The IFP Youth Brigade calls for the removal of ministers Nzimande and Motshekga 
# And cricket: The Proteas get a taste of the conditions in New Zealand

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has reassured South Africans that the upcoming national and provincial elections will be free from vote rigging. In an interview with the SABC, Ramaphosa expressed confidence in the Electoral Commission, calling it one of the best elections agencies in the world, capable of conducting smooth and fair elections. He emphasised South Africa has implemented robust information technology systems and transparency measures. Ramaphosa also affirmed the ANC would accept the outcome of the election results.

# The Inkatha Freedom Party Youth Brigade is calling on Ramaphosa to initiate a government reshuffle. They specifically target the removal of Higher Education, Science and Innovation minister Blade Nzimande and Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga. The brigade’s Sanele Zondo says the chronic underperformance and lack of accountability in those departments have eroded public trust and confidence in government’s ability to deliver on its mandate of providing quality education:

# The South African Human Rights Commission has expressed concern over recent racial discrimination and escalating violence in Groblersdal, Limpopo. This follows after two farmers were accused of assaulting a security guard and setting a dog on him. The commission condemns the display of the old South African flag, declared hate speech, at the local Magistrate’s Court last week. The commission urges all parties to maintain calm and calls for adherence to democratic principles. Piet Groenewald and his stepson, Stefan Greeff, appeared in court today for a bail application.

# Cricket: The Proteas’ warm-up match against a New Zealand Eleven in Lincoln ended in a draw today. South Africa were 91 for two in the second innings after 31 overs, and leading by 136 runs, when the players shook hands. Captain Neil Brand on 11, Raynard van Tonder on 23 and Clyde Fortuin on 30 retired not out. The first Test between New Zealand and the Proteas in Mount Maunganui starts on Sunday, with the second in Hamilton from 13 February.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-72-cents and the euro at 20-rand-29-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-74-cents and Bitcoin trades at 42-thousand-471-dollars-66-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-38-dollars-43-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-62-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Stellenbosch University researcher Zara Trafford says the care dependency grant for children with disabilities in South Africa is insufficient. It fails to ensure the social protection of their families. Trafford says for families with minimal or no other income, the grant cannot cover the additional costs of managing childhood disability. Even those who gain access, are at risk of extreme poverty. Trafford says the grant is a greatly under-researched topic compared to the child support grant for poverty alleviation and the adult disability grant:

Stay tuned for more news………….