News 06:00

BULLETIN 23 January 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa is optimistic about investment opportunities following the World Economic Forum
# The DA says the NPA cannot prosecute complex financial crimes
# And rugby: Zain Davids is honoured for a Blitzboks milestone

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the South African delegation to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland has demonstrated more clearly that the country is a great destination for investment. He addressed the media on the sidelines of the forum in Davos on Wednesday. South Africa has taken its place as the first African country to bear the Presidency of the G20. Ramaphosa says the forum was a success for the country, and he is very optimistic about the investment opportunities ahead:

# The DA says the National Prosecuting Authority lacks the independence, resources, and capability to prosecute complex financial crimes. One of the last remaining reasons South Africa is grey-listed is because the criminal justice system has failed to combat and prosecute financial crimes. The Financial Action Task Force has stated that the country should demonstrate a sustained increase in investigations and prosecutions of serious and complex money laundering cases. The DA says it remains firm that an Anti-Corruption Commission should be established to get the country off the grey list.

# The ANC is set to restructure its leadership in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal on Monday to address its steep electoral decline. Support in KwaZulu-Natal dropped from over 50-percent to 17-percent, while Gauteng fell to 35-percent in last year’s elections. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says national officials, led by president Cyril Ramaphosa, plan to replace provincial executive committees with task teams to strengthen the party’s position without disrupting government operations:

# The Save South Africa Civic Movement has condemned alleged corruption linked to the hiring of the Boipatong Monument and Youth Centre for the 2024 Boipatong Massacre commemoration. Chairperson Lerato Lumkile Moshesh highlighted that 449-thousand-618-rand was paid to Mahloko Makhetha Trading despite the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture owning the venue. He has called for an investigation by the Public Protector:

# TotalEnergies says its giant gas project in Mozambique, suspended since 2021 after a jihadist attack, would resume only when “peace and security” return to the Cabo Delgado region. The French company was responding to a Financial Times report saying it had again “delayed” a restart at the site over security and political risks in the southern African nation. CEO Patrick Pouyanne had indicated in October that its goal to begin gas production in 2029 was based on resuming work on the project by the end of the year.

# Rugby: Blitzboks loose-forward, Zain Davids will celebrate his 50th HSBC Sevens tournament for the team this Friday in Perth, Australia, eight years after debuting in 2017. The 27-year-old calls it a proud moment, matching the joy of his first cap. As a key player for the Blitzboks, Davids aims to lead by example as co-captain, continuing the team’s winning momentum from Cape Town:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-49-cents and the euro at 19-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-76-cents and Bitcoin trades at 103-thousand-884-dollar-20-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-754-dollars-90-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-75-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….