News 08:00

BULLETIN 15 January 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The government says it has worked hard to create an enabling learning environment
# The DA is calling for an investigation into Crime Intelligence’s luxury hotel
# And cricket: The Joburg Super Kings and Pretoria Capitals claim crucial victories

# Government says it has worked hard to create an enabling learning environment which includes eradicating mud schools, pit latrine toilets and providing good quality classrooms. The Department of Basic Education has set a deadline of 31 March 2025 to eradicate all remaining identified pit latrine toilets in schools nationwide. Government Communication and Information System’s spokesperson, Kgomotso Ranoto, says the matric class of 2024 has benefited from an education system that is more inclusive and better resourced:

# The United Democratic Movement has called for addressing systemic inequalities in education, especially in rural and township schools facing resource shortages and infrastructure challenges. This comes as the party congratulates the Class of 2024 on achieving an 87.3-percent pass rate and 47.8-percent bachelor passes. UDM’s Thandi Nontenja, urges curriculum modernisation and equitable support for all learners to foster economic growth and job readiness. She advocates for closing educational gaps to build a prosperous, just society.

# The DA has written to the Inspector-General for Intelligence to request an investigation into the police Crime Intelligence division’s purchase of a luxury hotel in Pretoria. This follows reports that the intelligence division splurged 22.7-million-rand of its secret funds to purchase a 24-bedroom luxury boutique hotel in Pretoria North. The DA’s, Dianne Kohler Barnard, says it is striking that no mention of such a purchase was made when the police reported on its property portfolio to Parliament’s portfolio committee on Police in November 2024:

# The White House says president Joe Biden has notified Congress that he will remove Cuba from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism and ease economic restrictions. President-elect Donald Trump reinstated Cuba’s terror designation in the final days of his first presidency in 2021, banning US financial aid and arms exports to the country. Cuba says as part of the deal with the Biden administration, it will release 553 political prisoners detained for diverse crimes. This decision is likely to be reversed by Trump.

# Cricket: Pretoria Capitals secured their first victory of the SA20 campaign with a six-wicket bonus point win over defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Daryn Dupavillion took two wickets as the Sunrisers were bowled out for just 113. In reply, an unbeaten 55-run partnership between Liam Livingstone and Marques Ackerman carried the Capitals to victory. In Durban, the Joburg Super Kings claimed a 28-run win over Durban’s Super Giants to remain unbeaten. JSK captain, Faf du Plessis, says the wicket was difficult to score on:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-93-cents and the euro at 19-rand-50-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-10-cents and Bitcoin trades at 96-thousand-744-dollars-4-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-673-dollars-15-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….