News 07:00

BULLETIN 30 January 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Basic Education refutes claims that foreign pupils are overrunning South African schools
# Judge Madlanga may apply for an extension of the commission
# And, the no-confidence vote against the Joburg mayor has been postponed

# The Department of Basic Education says claims that foreign learners are placing undue pressure on the education system are statistically incorrect and irresponsible. National enrollment data show that foreign pupils constitute only 1.8-percent of pupils in the country. This comes amid protests led by the anti-immigrant organisation March and March outside Durban’s Addington Primary School, claiming foreigners were given priority over locals. The department says any attempt to use the education sector as a platform for scapegoating, social division, or political opportunism must be rejected as a deliberate attempt to sow division.

# Madlanga Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels says Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga may apply for an extension of the commission from president Cyril Ramaphosa, as the 17 March final deadline is approaching. He says as part of its remaining work, dozens of witnesses are due to appear before the Commission over the next few months. Michaels says the Commission will be hearing evidence from persons who have been implicated in the serious allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi:

Meanwhile, Build One South Africa says the Madlanga commission’s interim report into corruption and criminality in the justice system is hard to believe, as not a single politician has been named. The party warns that the justice system has been hollowed out by politically connected officials. It calls for the immediate removal of Police minister Senzo Mchunu and wants the report tabled in Parliament for urgent public scrutiny. BOSA’s Roger Solomons says the party demands a permanent minister focused on restoring integrity and public trust.

# The motion of no confidence against Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero was deferred in council on Thursday, pending consultation on the voting procedure. The motion was brought by Al Jama-ah and supported by several other minority parties, who accuse Morero of failing to improve service delivery and sidelining coalition partners when making major decisions. Council speaker Margaret Arnolds said the vote will take place at a later date due to the requests for a secret ballot. This is the third motion the under-fire Morero has faced since taking office in 2024. 

# White House border czar Tom Homan says he has ordered federal immigration authorities to work on an eventual drawdown plan for law enforcement in Minnesota. President Donald Trump sent Homan to the city after two protesters, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were shot dead by federal officials in Minneapolis. Homan reiterated that ICE and Border Patrol officers are performing duties in a challenging environment, while also trying to remain professional:

# Golf: South Africa’s Martin Vorster leads the SDC Open after firing an opening round of seven-under-par 65 at the Zebula Golf Estate and Spa in Limpopo. He finished the day with a one-stroke lead over compatriots Jaco Prinsloo and MJ Viljoen. Behind them are England’s Callum Farr, South Africans Jaco Ahlers and Luke Brown, and Julien Sale of France on five-under-par. Vorster says he is pleased with his performance so far:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-82-cents and the euro at 18-rand-87-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-78-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-647-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-347-dollars-71-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-2-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….