News 07:00

BULLETIN 19 January 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA wants answers on the apparent defiance of president Ramaphosa’s order
# Minister Hlabisa welcomes the classification of a national disaster in five provinces
# And rugby: The Springbok Women’s Sevens are crowned the champions in Dubai

# The DA is calling an urgent Parliament debate over the South African National Defence Force’s apparent defiance of president Cyril Ramaphosa’s order around the Exercise Will for Peace 2026. Defence minister Angie Motshekga has ordered a board of inquiry to establish why Ramaphosa’s instructions to the SANDF to withdraw Iran from the multinational naval exercise in False Bay, Cape Town, were not obeyed. The DA’s Chris Hattingh says, despite the president’s order, the Iranian vessels nevertheless took part in the exercise:

# Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, has welcomed the classification of a national disaster, following severe weather conditions and widespread flooding across parts of the country. Heavy rainfall and deadly flooding from late December 2025 have affected parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and North West. The minister’s spokesperson, Pearl Maseko-Binqose, says the mobilisation of adequate resources to support relief and recovery efforts is imperative:

The South African Human Rights Commission has meanwhile called on the public to follow evacuation directives and safety warnings provided by authorities following the devastating floods. The commission has described the loss of life as alarming, as the combined death toll now stands at 31. It says the effects of the flooding threaten basic constitutional rights, including the rights to life, dignity, and access to essential services. The commission calls for heightened vigilance as rescue efforts continue. 

# The minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, says the Post-School Education and Training Sector Strategy Session revealed a system under serious pressure, yet rich with opportunity. Speaking after the engagements in Cape Town, Manamela highlighted economic constraints, youth unemployment, rapid technological change, and climate challenges as key pressures. He called for decisive action, stronger governance, coordinated international partnership,s and an integrated, student-centred approach. This is to ensure the Post-School Education and Training system is fit for the future.

# Israeli far-right Finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has rejected a US-backed plan for postwar governance in Gaza. US president Donald Trump has appointed the so-called Gaza “board of peace”, meant to temporarily oversee governance and reconstruction in the strip. The board is part of Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza. Smotrich has criticised prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to annex the Palestinian territory and establish new Israeli settlements in the territory. He says Netanyahu’s unwillingness to take responsibility for Gaza is the original sin.

# Rugby: The Springbok Women’s Sevens were crowned champions of the inaugural World Rugby Sevens 3 tournament in Dubai on Sunday, after beating Argentina 12-5 in the final. South Africa finished the tournament unbeaten, qualifying for the Sevens 2 series. The Czech Republic shocked Poland 24-14 to claim the third and final place on the podium. Bok Women’s coach Cecil Afrika praised his team’s defence throughout the weekend:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-40-cents and the euro at 19-rand-7-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-699-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-660-dollars-61-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-53-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….