News 07:00

BULLETIN 28 January 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Parliament’s ad hoc committee is working on calling Brown Mogotsi to testify
# Over 90-percent of Soweto learner transport fails road-worthiness checks
# And, the EU and India conclude a landmark free trade agreement

# Parliament’s ad hoc committee says its legal team is working on the appearance of the controversial North West businessman Brown Mogotsi. The committee is investigating allegations of criminal infiltration, corruption, and political interference in the justice system. Mogotsi has been accused of being the go-between for suspended Police minister Senzo Mchunu and alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. The Committee chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane, says Mogotsi’s statement is about ready:

# Sakeliga, together with the South African Agri Initiative and Free State Agriculture, has given the minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, until 30 January to confirm whether livestock owners may legally procure and administer foot-and-mouth disease vaccines themselves. Legal action will be taken if Steenhuisen fails to provide a clear response. Saai CEO Francois Rossouw says allowing private vaccination would enable an immediate, decentralised response to the outbreak and should not be blocked by government red tape:

# The Gauteng Road and Transport Department has reported that over 90-percent of scholar transport vehicles in Soweto and surrounding areas failed basic road-worthiness tests. Of 51 vehicles tested at Jabulani, only three passed. Inspections revealed drivers without licences or permits, expired documents, and unsafe tyres. The crackdown follows last week’s Vanderbijlpark crash that killed 14 learners, where the driver was found operating a vehicle with an expired permit. The department seeks to implement strict measures to ensure learner safety on the roads.

# The European Union and India have agreed on a historic and commercially significant free trade agreement, the largest such deal ever clinched by either side. The EU is already India’s largest partner with trade in goods amounting to 11.5-percent of the South Asian nation’s total trade. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says this agreement will strengthen economic and political ties between the 27-nation bloc and the world’s fourth-largest economy, at a time of rising geopolitical tensions:

# Netball: Proteas coach Jenny van Dyk says the three-match test series against England allows them to build on the depth of the team. Two uncapped players, Thulisile Maduna and Tinita van Dyk, have been named in the 15-player squad, as South Africa looks to widen the pool of players in the circles. Van Dyk also stressed the importance of building towards the Commonwealth Games in July, but also for the 2027 World Cup in Australia. The opening match in the series is tomorrow evening at the Ellis Park Indoor Arena in Johannesburg.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-89-cents and the euro at 19-rand-8-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-94-cents and Bitcoin trades at 89-thousand-171-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-200-dollars-53-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-58-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Politically charged thriller One Battle After Another starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Chase Infiniti has bagged 14 nominations for the Bafta Film Awards. These include best director for Paul Thomas Anderson and leading actor and actress for DiCaprio and Infiniti. Ryan Coogler’s historical horror Sinners has received 13 nominations, the highest for any film by a black director in BAFTA history. Hamnet and Marty Supreme both have eleven nominations. The awards will be held at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, 22 February.

Stay tuned for more news………….