News 06:00

BULLETIN 7 January 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# AfriForum is hopeful about its urgent application for the publication of the matric results
# South Africa needs 200-billion-rand for economic growth
# And cricket: The Proteas record a convincing Test victory against Pakistan

# AfriForum is expecting a positive outcome as the Pretoria High Court hears an urgent application by the Information Regulator today to block the publication of the 2024 matric results in the media, citing privacy concerns. The Department of Basic Education argues prior court orders mandate publication. AfriForum’s head of Cultural Affairs, Alana Bailey, says the court decision will clarify if results can appear in the media next week:

# South Africa must invest 200-billion-rand to revive its railways and upgrade water infrastructure to boost economic growth. According to the Bureau of Economic Research, the nation risks stagnation due to the lack of addressing bottlenecks in electricity, governance, and infrastructure. The Bureau’s Impumelelo Economic Growth Lab warns that South Africa’s economy, which has averaged less than one-percent growth over the last decade, will remain stuck without these critical investments. It projects only 1.7-percent growth in 2025 and just below two-percent from 2026 to 2029.

# City of Johannesburg council speaker Nobuhle Mthembu has affirmed the office’s commitment to the rule of law. This was after the High Court in Johannesburg declared the council’s VIP protection policy unlawful. The court found the policy was put in place without a required threat assessment from the police. Mthembu says the office is reviewing the judgment and will act based on legal advice:

# Justin Trudeau says he intends to resign as Canada’s prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party, once a new party leader is chosen. Trudeau, prime minister since 2015, faced calls to quit amid poor showings in opinion polls. Canada’s Parliament will be suspended until March 24th while a new leader is chosen. Trudeau says he feels removing the contention around his leadership is an opportunity to bring the temperature down:

# Cricket: South Africa clinched the two-match Test series against Pakistan two-nil following a ten-wicket victory on day four of the second Test in Cape Town. The Proteas posted 615 in their first innings including centuries from Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma, and Kyle Verreynne. The visitors were bowled out for 194 in their first innings. Forced to follow on 421 runs behind from the first innings, Pakistan battled to 478 all out. South Africa however, easily knocked off a target of 58 in just 7.1 overs to win the series.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-55-cents and the euro at 19-rand-25-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-23-cents and Bitcoin trades at 102-thousand-69-dollar-10-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-635-dollars-6-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-16-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The National Sea Rescue Institute is continuing search operations after multiple drowning incidents across South Africa during the festive season. Missing persons include an 18-year-old at Brighton Beach, two individuals on the Cape West Coast, and a man who attempted to cross the Jukskei River. NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon urged the public to swim only at lifeguarded beaches and avoid alcohol near water, as it may have contributed to some drownings.

Stay tuned for more news………….