News 06:00

BULLETIN 8 January 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Uncertainty looms over the publication of the 2024 matric results
# The MK Party is calling for policies to protect South Africa’s strategic industries
# And motorsport: Cape Town bids to host the Formula 1 race in Green Point

# The matric class of 2024 will only find out today if their results will be published next week. The Information Regulator yesterday asked the High Court in Pretoria to urgently halt matric results publication, but Judge Ronel Tolmay questioned the urgency, citing a 2022 court order allowing the practice. A ruling on the interdict is expected later today. The regulator’s lawyer Kennedy Tsatsawane argued publishing results using exam numbers violates the Protection of Personal Information Act:

# The MK Party says ArcelorMittal South Africa’s decision to close its Newcastle and Vereeniging operations reflects the absence of a government capable of safeguarding the country’s strategic industries. The closure threatens the jobs of around three-thousand-500 workers. The MK Party calls for immediate policy interventions, including prohibiting cheap steel imports to protect local industries and create jobs. It adds that Parliament’s portfolio committees on Transport and Trade, Industry, and Competition must urgently intervene to avoid the closure of ArcelorMittal’s operations.

# The DA in Tshwane has welcomed the SIU’s announcement that criminal referrals have been made to the National Prosecuting Authority regarding the case of the Rooiwal Treatment Plant Five. The case involves an irregular tender linked to businessman Edwin Sodi, with officials implicated. DA Tshwane caucus leader Cilliers Brink has also called on Tshwane’s city manager, Johann Mettler, to review the officials’ suspension decision:

# AZAPO has urged the government to institutionalise traditional initiation schools and allocate annual budgets for their regulation. Following the tragic deaths of several initiates this summer, it says the deaths were preventable and should be linked to criminality at bogus schools. The party advocates for healthcare monitoring, visible policing, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. In a statement, AZAPO also stresses the need for convictions as a deterrent. In addition, traditional leaders and councillors are urged to prioritise young men’s safety.

# Ghana has sworn in John Mahama as the new president amid the nation’s worst economic crisis in a generation. The 65-year-old former president, who served from 2012 to 2017, defeated Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia after promising to address economic challenges, corruption, and youth unemployment. Mahama’s victory in December’s election has been viewed as a significant test for Ghana’s democracy. He thanked former president Nana Akufo-Addo for his service:

# Motorsport: Cape Town Grand Prix SA is preparing a bid to host a Formula One street race in 2027. The proposed 5.7-kilometre circuit in Green Point would showcase the DHL Stadium and Cape Town’s iconic landmarks. Cape Town faces competition from Johannesburg’s Kyalami Circuit, which is set to upgrade its facilities to reach F-I-A Grade 1 accreditation. CEO Igshaan Amlay expressed optimism about the Cape Town bid, stating significant economic benefits, boosting tourism and local spending. F1 last held a race in South Africa at the Kyalami circuit in 1993.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-69-cents and the euro at 19-rand-31-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-28-cents and Bitcoin trades at 96-thousand-884-dollar-10-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-649-dollars-51-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-35-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….