News 07:00

BULLETIN 26 January 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC’s National Executive Committee this weekend will formulate its response to dealing with Jacob Zuma
# Action Society says its proposals for the IPID Amendment Bill are incorporated in a proposal to the National Council of Provinces  
# And cricket, the Pretoria Capitals edge the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in a low-scoring SA20 match]

# The ANC National Executive Committee will decide on the party’s former president Jacob Zuma’s fate this weekend. Last month, Zuma announced he would not campaign for the ruling party nor vote for it in the upcoming elections, but was adamant he remained a member of the governing party. He has been publicly endorsing and supporting the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe. ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe says disciplinary action will be taken against Zuma for breaching the party’s constitution.

# Action Society says its recommendations for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Amendment Bill have been incorporated into a National Council of Provinces proposal. The organisation advocates for the independence of the police watchdog body as a Chapter 9 Institution, enhancing its constitutional status and operational autonomy. The bill is open for public comment until 2 February. Action Society’s Ian Cameron says the proposed amendments aim to empower IPID, to diligently execute its mandate and contribute to democratic reform:

# The Gauteng High Court has granted president Cyril Ramaphosa leave to appeal a ruling setting aside his recognition of Misuzulu kaZwelithini as head of the Zulu monarchy. Last month, the High Court in Pretoria set aside the president’s recognition and crowning of the King. The court also instructed Ramaphosa to set up an investigative committee to probe the allegations that King Misuzulu was not identified for his position in line with Zulu customary laws and customs. The appeal will be heard in the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein.

# National Treasury has approved 114-million-rand to be released from the Municipal Disaster Response Grant to the Western Cape, following extensive flooding in September last year. Funds have yet to be released for the May/June flooding. MEC of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, says although the province applied for relief of more than 700-million-rand, they appreciate the funding by Treasury, which will be spent in the five municipalities identified for relief, Theewaterskloof, Overstrand, Stellenbosch, Langeberg and the City of Cape Town:

# A new report by the International Energy Agency titled Electricity 2024 reveals per capita electricity demand across Africa has remained stagnant for three decades. The report notes that in 2023, approximately 600-million people in Africa lacked access to electricity. The agency says the stagnant electricity demand has adverse effects on economic development and growth. With Africa’s population expected to grow rapidly by 2030, there is a pressing need for additional electricity supply.

# Cricket: The Pretoria Capitals produced a clinical bowling performance to beat the Sunrisers Eastern Cape by three runs in their SA20 match in Centurion. Having been put in to bat the Capitals made just 125 in their 20 overs. In reply, Wayne Parnell and Adil Rashid took three wickets each to restrict the Sunrisers to 122 for nine. This win has lifted the Capitals off the bottom of the table for the first time this season. Pretoria Capitals player, Eathan Bosch, says they are still looking for the perfect game:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-85-cents and the euro at 20-rand-45-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 40-thousand-38-dollars-75-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-22-dollars-65-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-57-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….