News 08:00

BULLETIN 29 January 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Lamola calls on Rwanda to stop supporting the M23 rebels in the DRC
# BOSA wants transparency from president Ramaphosa on the situation in the DRC
# And the AA calls for a zero-alcohol driving limit to reduce road fatalities

# International Relations and Cooperation minister, Ronald Lamola, says the current security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo is appalling and unacceptable. At least 17 foreign peacekeepers have been killed in clashes with Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, including 13 South African National Defence Force soldiers. Addressing the African Union Peace and Security Council, Lamola has called for Rwanda to cease its support of the M23 and for its forces to withdraw from the DRC. He adds that the unauthorised presence of M23 violates the territorial integrity of the DRC.

Meanwhile, Build One South Africa is calling on president Cyril Ramaphosa to urgently address the nation and provide a full and transparent account of the South African National Defence Force operations in the DRC. BOSA’s spokesperson, Roger Solomons, says Ramaphosa must be clear on whether the SANDF’s involvement in the DRC is a selfless mission for regional peace or a dangerous geopolitical game:

# The Automobile Association urges a zero-alcohol limit for drivers to combat rising road fatalities. South Africa’s festive season statistics reveal nine-thousand-550 arrests for traffic violations, with three-thousand-840 drivers charged for drunk driving. A 2020 alcohol ban during lockdown reduced road crash injuries by 60-percent. Spokesperson Eleanor Mavimbela says studies show that even minimal alcohol, impairs driving. She emphasised the need for stricter measures and enforcement for public safety as alcohol-related crashes cost the country 18.2-billion-rand annually.

# ActionSA in KwaZulu-Natal has welcomed what it says is the long-overdue authorisation by president Cyril Ramaphosa for an investigation into the KwaDukuza Municipality. The president has authorised the Special Investigating Unit to probe municipal tenders from 2018 and 2019. ActionSA’s, Nel Sewraj says the investigation relates to the irregular intervention of municipal officials in multiple tenders, among those, the controversial road rehabilitation panels:

# Cricket: The Pretoria Capitals secured a six-wicket bonus point victory over the Joburg Super Kings at Centurion, to keep their hopes of clinching a play-off spot in the SA20 alive. Migael Pretorius took three wickets as the Super Kings were restricted to 99 for nine. In reply, the Capitals reached the target with eight overs to spare. With the top four qualifying for the playoffs, Capitals are just one point behind the fourth-placed Super Kings. Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis says reaching the playoff is still in their hands:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-67-cents and the euro at 19-rand-48-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-24-cents and Bitcoin trades at 101-thousand-990-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-763-dollars-3-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-22-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….