News 07:00

BULLETIN 29 January 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Judge Bernard Ngoepe will chair the inquiry into Iran’s controversial participation in the recent naval drill
# BOSA launches a school’s complaints hotline to take education failures to Parliament
# And cricket: The T20 series between the Proteas and the Windies moves to Centurion

# Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, has appointed retired Judge Bernard Ngoepe to chair the board of inquiry into the failure to withdraw Iran from the naval exercise Will for Peace off Simon’s Town earlier this month. President Cyril Ramaphosa had ordered Iran’s withdrawal from the exercise, which also involved Russia, China, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. The department’s spokesperson, Siphiwe Dlamini, says Judges Monica Leeuw and Kathleen Satchwell, and retired Rear Admiral Patrick Duze, form part of the board:

# The EFF says they support calls for both private investigator Paul O’Sullivan and controversial North West businessman Brown Mogotsi to be subpoenaed to appear before Parliament’s ad hoc committee. Mogotsi has demanded that Parliament pay for his security detail before he appears before the committee. O’Sullivan has also made requests that he appear virtually, citing security concerns. The EFF’s Leigh-Ann Mathys says Parliament has allowed the committee to be undermined by both O’Sullivan and Mogotsi:

# Build One South Africa has set up a schools’ complaints hotline to tackle ongoing education challenges and bring issues to Parliament. The party says two weeks into the 2026 academic year, many learners are still not placed in schools, while others face daily obstacles such as textbook shortages, infrastructure challenges, and poor sanitation. BOSA’s Roger Solomons calls for broader education reforms, including higher pass marks, better teacher support, and improved school management.

# RISE Mzansi has commended Gauteng Agriculture MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa and the Provincial Government of Unity for their transparent response to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Party spokesperson, Mabine Seabe, says the measures will help protect farmers, farmworkers, and the province’s high-value agricultural sector. Seabe calls for a cohesive national strategy, including vaccine manufacturing, movement contro,l and a unified animal health framework to safeguard food security:

# US president Donald Trump has warned Iran that time is running out to negotiate a fair and equitable deal on its nuclear programme. Tensions between the US and Iran have been inflamed in recent weeks over the regime’s killing of over five-thousand protestors. On Truth Social, Trump warned that a massive Armada was moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose towards Iran, referring to a large American naval force. In response, Iran says it stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect, but will defend itself if pushed.

# Cricket: The T20 series between South Africa and the West Indies moves to Centurion in Gauteng today after the Proteas clinched Wednesday’s first encounter in Paarl by nine wickets. South African captain Aiden Markram led from the front, contributing an undefeated 86. The final T20 will be played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Saturday. The series is used as a warm-up for the T20 World Cup, starting in India and Sri Lanka next Saturday, with the Proteas’ first engagement against Canada in Ahmedabad two days later.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-73-cents and the euro at 18-rand-83-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-73-cents and Bitcoin trades at 88-thousand-887-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-463-dollars-33-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-55-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….