News 06:00

BULLETIN 23 January 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Godongwana says South Africa’s G20 Presidency secured major achievements
# Volodymyr Zelensky criticises Europe’s fragmented response to global challenges
# And rugby: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is the only South African on the 2026 Champions Cup shortlist

# Finance minister Enoch Godongwana says South Africa’s G20 presidency secured major achievements and continued the G20’s original mandate, to promote strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth. The South African delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, briefed the media on the implementation of South Africa’s 2025 G20 Presidency under the theme, From Declaration to Implementation. Godongwana says the major achievement has been the endorsement of the G20 Ministerial declaration on debt sustainability:

# Higher Education and Training minister Buti Manamela says the post-school education and training sector has about 535-thousand funded and planned spaces across universities, TVET and community colleges, skills programmes and workplace learning. Manamela clarified that a bachelor’s pass or meeting the admission point score does not guarantee university or programme placement. He explained that institutions admit limited numbers based on skill needs and available resources:

# The Supreme Court of Appeal has dismissed the South African Heritage Resources Agency’s appeal to stop the sale of items linked to the late former president Nelson Mandela. The court upheld the ruling by the High Court in Pretoria in favour of Makaziwe Mandela and former prison guard Christo Brand. The court ruled that the items do not automatically qualify as national heritage objects and that the owners’ constitutional property rights cannot be restricted without clear evidence. The appeal was rejected with costs.

# The Gauteng Provincial Disaster Management Centre has deployed its Urban Search and Rescue Team to support Limpopo and Mozambique following severe flooding. The multi-agency team, including fire, emergency medical services, and key stakeholders, recently attained UN International Search and Rescue Advisory Group Medium Classification. Operations focus on search, rescue, and recovery, including the recovery of missing persons. The deployment reflects constitutional obligations, the Disaster Management Act, and Southern African Development Community commitments, highlighting Gauteng’s disaster readiness and regional solidarity.

# Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has described Europe as a fragmented kaleidoscope of small and middle powers with no clear plan to confront Russia or defend itself. He addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he stated that Europe loves to discuss the future but avoids taking action today. Zelensky says Europe still feels more like a geography, history, a tradition, not a real political force, not a great power:

 # Rugby:  South African flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu continues to make waves in European rugby and earning a well-deserved spot as the only South African among the ten nominees for the 2026 Investec Champions Cup Player of the Year. The 23-year-old Stormers player has been turning heads throughout the pool stages of the competition. His leadership on the field and strategic play have helped define the Stormers’ pool stage campaign.  Sacha is also shortlisted for the SA Rugby Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-12-cents and the euro at 18-rand-95-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 89-thousand-100-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-951-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-59-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….