News 08:00

BULLETIN 12 January 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa highlights the goals of the government of national unity
# The ATM calls for justice after a deadly Mpumalanga tavern shooting
# And Rugby: The Stormers win in style against Sale

# ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa says the government of national unity, formed with nine political parties, aims to improve South Africans’ lives and the country’s economic standing. Speaking in Khayelitsha during the ANC’s January 8 Statement, Ramaphosa emphasised decisive action on urgent fronts to rebuild public confidence. He reaffirmed the ANC’s commitment to addressing the nation’s challenges through collaborative governance for economic and social progress.

# The African Transformation Movement is demanding a thorough investigation and swift arrest of perpetrators responsible for the Pienaar tavern shooting in Mpumalanga. Eight people were shot dead and five wounded in the early hours of Saturday morning. ATM spokesperson, Zama Ntshona, says current police statistics reveal a troubling situation in the province, where over 300 murders were reported in the first quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year:

# The EFF in Gauteng says the appalling reality of human and drug trafficking crimes in South Africa is concerning. This follows the arrest of three individuals in connection with suspected human trafficking involving 26 Ethiopian men in Sandringham, Johannesburg. The party says criminal syndicates are flagrantly undermining the country’s laws while committing heinous acts. The EFF is calling for an urgent need for a well-organised crime prevention strategy, that emphasizes strengthening crime intelligence and investigative units.

# Firefighting crews have reported some progress in the battle against deadly wildfires in Los Angeles, with more than 100-thousand residents still under evacuation orders. Officials have confirmed at least eleven deaths but say it’s not yet safe to assess the true total. The coastal Palisades Fire is at least 11-percent contained but now expanding eastwards, with firefighters racing to make progress ahead of more wind and dry conditions. An earlier review by CNN suggested that the Palisades Fire was caused by a devastating combination of factors which pushed the county’s resources beyond its limits.

# And rugby: The Stormers registered their first points in the Champions Cup this season with a commanding 40-0 bonus point win over the Sale Sharks at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday. The Stormers’ six tries came from JD Schickerling, Manie Libbok, Sti Stihole, Warrick Gelant, Paul de Wet and Andre-Hugo Venter. The win keeps the Stormers’ hopes alive of reaching the knockout phase of the Champions Cup. They will play their final game of the pool stages on the 18th when they travel to France to take on Racing 92.

Stay tuned for more news………….