News 07:00

BULLETIN 30 January 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Fikile Mbalula says Jacob Zuma’s actions warranted an immediate suspension from the ANC
# Rand Water appeals for media sensitivity following a fatal shooting incident
# And, Joe Biden is still considering his response after a deadly attack on American soldiers in Jordan

# ANC secretary general, Fikile Mbalula, says the National Executive Committee has concluded that exceptional circumstances exist to justify, and warrant an immediate suspension of former president Jacob Zuma’s membership. This is in line with Rule 25.60 of the party’s Constitution. Zuma has been publicly endorsing and supporting the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe. Mbalula says Zuma’s actions since the announcement of the MK party impaired the integrity of the ANC:

He added the formation of the uMkhonto weSizwe party is not an accident, but a deliberate attempt to lend credibility to what is a blatantly counter-revolutionary agenda. Zuma has been immediately suspended from the ANC, following his announcement that he will not be campaigning or voting for the ruling party. Mbalula says the ANC is willing, able, and ready to defend the gains of freedom and constitutional democracy:

# Rand Water appeals for sensitivity as they cope with the tragic loss of an executive during the back-to-school campaign at Zakarriya Park community centre. The City of Johannesburg’s chief whip Sithembiso Zungu was wounded and two other people lost their lives after several suspects opened fire inside the hall in the south of the city yesterday before fleeing. The water utility’s spokesperson Makenosi Maroo says disclosing the other victims’ identities is prohibited at this stage:

# Civil rights organisation Cape Forum says the wave of firearms theft from the Mitchells Plain police station in Cape Town is deeply concerning. It came to light last week that 15 firearms and eight imitation weapons used in criminal activities were stolen from the police station. One officer was arrested and subsequently dismissed after the firearms were reported missing in November last year. The Cape Forum’s Bernard Pieters says it is clear that the police’s national structures does not have the capacity to curb or manage this problem.

# US president Joe Biden is still considering his country’s response after three American soldiers were killed and dozens wounded in a drone attack on their barracks in Jordan. The White House says Biden and his national security team are weighing the options. It’s not yet sure who launched the attack, with America believing it was Iranian-backed groups. Security spokesperson John Kirby says while this was the first deadly strike on US soldiers in the Middle East since the 7 October attacks on Israel, it wasn’t the first attempt.

# Rugby: New England captain Jamie George says he wants to draw inspiration from his country’s cricket team when the Six Nations kicks off this weekend. England faces Italy in Rome in their first match on Saturday afternoon. The England cricket team stunned India by coming back from a seemingly hopeless situation to win the first Test. George says they want to put smiles on their fans’ faces after only winning two of their five past home games. England’s first home game at Twickenham will be against Wales next Saturday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-81-cents and the euro at 20-rand-38-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-92-cents and Bitcoin trades at 43-thousand-515-dollars-48-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-30-dollars-41-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-8-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….