News 07:00

BULLETIN 21 January 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA demands minister Ntshavheni’s removal
# Minister Ramokgopa says South Africa will showcase energy reforms in Davos
# And Biden issues pre-emptive pardons to members of his family

# The DA has called for minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni’s immediate removal following revelations of a Hawks investigation into 2.5-million-rand tender corruption during her tenure at Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality. The DA’s Dianne Kohler Barnard, insists she cannot remain in Cabinet under such serious allegations, urging president Cyril Ramaphosa to act. She says this adds to criticism of ANC leaders implicated in corruption without accountability:

Meanwhile, ActionSA also urges Ramaphosa to suspend Ntshavheni. ActionSA’s Athol Trollip says Ntshavheni’s position overseeing state security poses a conflict of interest and reflects a troubling pattern of ministers facing legal issues under Ramaphosa’s leadership:

# Electricity and Energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says South Africa’s energy market reforms and investment opportunities will be showcased at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week. President Cyril Ramaphosa is leading the South African delegation, where he is set to address the forum today. Ramokgopa says the energy delegation will share the reforms that have taken shape in the electricity sector to end load-shedding, and which have modernised the electricity market in a way that encourages private sector competition.

# The South African Communist Party says the government must launch a thorough investigation into how the Stilfontein tragedy could have been better managed, and what measures can be implemented to prevent similar tragedies in the future. More than 80 bodies of illegal miners were retrieved from the disused Buffelsfontein gold mine, and over one-thousand people have surfaced from a shaft at the mine since November. The SACP says the government must hold mining corporations accountable for their historical and ongoing exploitation, and enforce stringent regulations to combat illegal mining.

# In his final official action as the US president, Joe Biden issued pre-emptive pardons to his brothers James and Francis, his sister Valerie along with their spouses. In a statement, Biden said his family has been subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt him, the worst kind of partisan politics. He added that even when individuals have done nothing wrong and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage their reputations and finances.

# Rugby: Former Wallaby captain Michael Hooper says he is excited to return to the game after his retirement in June. He recently unexpectedly announced he signed a contract with Toyota Verblitz, coached by former All Blacks coach Steven Hansen. Thirty-three-year-old Hooper will represent the Japanese team for the remainder of the season as replacecement for injured Springbok great Pieter-Steph du Toit. General manager, Akitomo Goto, believes Hooper will inspire young Japanese talent. The flanker scored 110 points in 125 Tests for Australia from 2012 to 2023.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-62-cents and the euro at 19-rand-30-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-88-cents and Bitcoin trades at 101-thousand-60-dollar-40-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-711-dollars-49-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-37-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….