News 07:00

BULLETIN 30 January 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Motsoaledi reassures South Africans about HIV treatment
# AfriForum will announce its plan against the Expropriation Act
# And motorsport: The deadline for South Africa’s F1 host bids is extended

# Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi has assured South Africans that no one should stop HIV treatment despite uncertainties over United States funding. Briefing the media on the sideline of the national cabinet lekgotla at the Union Buildings, he said government funding and global contributions will ensure that ARV supplies continue, and efforts are underway to address potential shortfalls. Motsoaledi insists treatment will continue, and efforts to reach the United Nation’s target remain on track:

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has approved an emergency humanitarian waiver, which will allow people to continue accessing HIV treatment funded by the US across 55 countries worldwide. The State Department announced an immediate 90-day funding pause for all foreign assistance, including for funding and services supported by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. This is pending a review of whether funding aligns with president Donald Trump’s foreign policy. Rubio says the waiver does not apply to programmes that involve abortions, gender or diversity, equity, and inclusion.

# Civil rights group AfriForum will unveil its strategy to fight the newly signed Expropriation Act today. President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the bill into law last week gaining both opposition and support. AfriForum’s Ernst van Zyl warns the law threatens private property rights, food security, and economic stability. He says they are prepared to take strong action to prevent its implementation:

# Cape Town mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, says he has determined insufficient evidence to justify the removal of mayoral committee members JP Smith and Xanthea Limberg. Last Friday police raided their offices, allegedly as part of the Hawks’ probe into dodgy housing tenders worth one-billion-rand. Hill-Lewis says he met with provincial Police Commissioner, Thembisile Patekile, and two of his officials on Wednesday, who could not provide any indication of whether substantive evidence of wrong-doing exists:

# The EFF in Gauteng has welcomed the removal of Sedibeng District Municipality ANC mayor Lerato Maloka, through a motion of no confidence. The DA-sponsored motion passed with 26 votes in favour and 21 votes against. The EFF says under Maloka’s leadership, service delivery has collapsed, financial irregularities have worsened, and residents have been subjected to deteriorating living conditions. The party adds that the people of Sedibeng deserve accountable leadership that prioritises service delivery over self-enrichment.

# Motorsport: The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has extended the deadline to submit host bids for a Formula One Gand Prix in South Africa. The department says the extension to March 18, aims to give stakeholders additional time to submit comprehensive, well-structured proposals in line with Request for Expression of Interest requirements. Kyalami remains a frontrunner, pending upgrades to meet FIA standards. The department’s spokesperson, Stacey-Lee Khojane, says they are committed to a transparent and competitive process:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-52-cents and the euro at 19-rand-31-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-6-cents and Bitcoin trades at 104-thousand-18-dollar-90-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-759-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-74-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….