NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 18 January 11 am

Good morning,

In this bulletin:

# The High Court in Pretoria has ruled in favour of AfriForum that matric results may be published
# The deputy president says law enforcement agencies must be given time to investigate the findings against the Eastern Cape premier
# And tennis: Novak Djokovic arrives home in Serbia after his ordeal in Australia

We have just heard:

# The High Court in Pretoria has ruled in favour of AfriForum that matric results may be published in the media after it is released on Thursday. More in our next bulletin.

# Law enforcement agencies should be given time to conduct their investigation into the Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane’s alleged misappropriation of funds. This was the reply of deputy president David Mabuza to a Parliamentary question by EFF member Tevin Apleni. Mabuyane found himself in trouble after Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane found he irregularly benefited from a tender for the memorial service of ANC stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. She ordered the Hawks to investigate allegations that Mabuyane received up to 450-thousand-rand.

# Tshwane mayor Randall Williams says Eskom is a failing state-owned enterprise and needs to be broken up and privatised as soon as possible. He reacted after Eskom requested a 20.5-percent tariff increase for the 2022/23 financial year. Williams says at a time of economic difficulty across the country, the proposed increases will lead to job losses. He adds Tshwane’s residents and the city cannot afford this as they need sustained economic recovery in light of the Covid-19 pandemic:

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# A 40-year-old woman has been killed whilst a second person was critically injured when they were struck by lightning in Kempton Park on the Gauteng East Rand. Emer-G-Med spokesperson Kyle van Reenen says their paramedics were called out to the scene in Jones Road:

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# Tennis: World number one Novak Djokovic was greeted by scores of fans and the international media when he arrived home in Serbia after his ordeal in Australia. He was forced to leave Melbourne this weekend when his visa was cancelled a second time, depriving him of defending his Australian Open title. Meanwhile, it is reported that Djokovic’s anti-vaccination stance may be tested further after French authorities warned unvaccinated players would not be welcome in the country for the French Open in May.

# Financial indicators: The dollar is trading at 15-rand-46-cents and the euro at 17-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-9-cents and Bitcoin trades at 41-thousand-997-dollar-1-cents. Gold is selling at one thousand-814-dollars-13-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollars-87-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The world’s largest known cut diamond is expected to fetch around 77-million-rand when it goes on auction early next month. The Enigma, described as the largest fancy black natural colour diamond, went on public display in Dubai yesterday. It will also be shown in Los Angeles and London before Sotheby’s seven-day online auction starts at the beginning of February. The gem of 555-carat was cut into a 55-faceted jewel, with the shape inspired by the Middle-Eastern palm-shaped symbol of power and protection.

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