News 08:00

BULLETIN 16 January 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The TRC inquiry will today hear oral arguments by Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki’s lawyers on judge Khampepe’s recusal
# Gauteng Education dismisses claims that foreigners are being prioritised over South African learners 
# And, the US sanctions 18 Iranian individuals and entities over the deadly protest crackdown

# The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Cases Inquiry will today hear oral arguments from the lawyers of former presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki, as to why chairperson, retired Justice Sisi Khampepe, should step down. The commission is investigating allegations of interference in the prosecution of apartheid-era crimes. Zuma and Mbeki’s applications cite alleged conflicts of interest linked to Khampepe’s previous roles within the TRC and the National Prosecuting Authority. The former statesmen maintain that their objection to Khampepe is to ensure a fair and impartial process.

# Trade union Solidarity says it will continue to oppose the National Health Insurance Act, warning that the policy could put lives at risk. The union calls for a sustainable alternative and has submitted its own Healthcare Funding Reform Bill to Parliament. They argue no version of the NHI is acceptable. Solidarity’s Theuns du Buisson says the current NHI proposal would remove patients’ and doctors’ choice, strain the public health system, and compromise access to quality care:

# The Gauteng Department of Education has denied claims that it prioritises foreign nationals when placing children at the expense of South African learners in public schools. It describes these claims as misleading and unfounded. Currently, two-thousand-763 Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners remain unplaced across the province. The department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, says no directive instructs schools to prioritise foreign nationals during learner placements:

# The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions against several senior Iranian officials behind the country’s deadly crackdown on anti-government protestors. Among the sanctioned is Ali Larijani, the Iranian national security chief. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the sanctions target 18 individuals and entities that the regime uses to evade sanctions on Iranian oil, and divert proceeds from its energy sales away from the rightful owners, the Iranian people:

# Cricket: Ottneil Baartman delivered a bowling masterclass to help the Paarl Royals book their spot in the SA20 playoffs, with a bonus-point six-wicket win over the Pretoria Capitals in Centurion. Baartman took five wickets to help rout the Capitals for just 127. The 32-year-old became just the second bowler in the competition’s history to grab a hat-trick after Pretoria Capitals seamer Lungi Ngidi achieved the feat last week. In reply, Rubin Hermann scored 46 as the Royals comfortably chased down the target with six wickets and four overs and one ball remaining. 

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-34-cents and the euro at 18-rand-97-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-87-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-466-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-597-dollars-96-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-13-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….