News 08:00

BULLETIN 22 January 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Tau says government is working on diversifying access to markets
# Numsa says the workers are being forced to carry the burden of Denel’s leadership failures
# And, Donald Trump says he has formed a framework for a Greenland deal

# Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, says South Africa is continuing its constructive trade engagement with the US, but acknowledged that certain ‘hot-button’ issues remain. US president Donald Trump’s administration imposed punitive 30-percent tariffs on South Africa in August last year, the highest among sub-Saharan African nations. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Tau told the SABC that the government is working on diversifying access to markets:

# The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa has condemned Denel management for failing to pay workers’ salaries. Two divisions of the state-owned arms manufacturer, PMP and Dynamics, have reportedly informed employees that they would not receive their salaries this month. Numsa’s spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi Majola, says Denel has already received 1.8-billion-rand in bailout funding from the National Treasury, intended to re-ignite production, pay salaries, and settle outstanding debts:

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources has condemned reports of violent and criminal actions by illegal miners in the Sporong informal settlement in Randfontein, on the West Rand. Around 300 families fled their homes earlier this month due to harassment and violence allegedly from illegal miners or “zama zamas”. The residents have been sheltering at the Randgate Boxing Club. Committee chairperson, Mikateko Mahlaule, says such acts not only undermine the safety and security of communities but also erode the authority of the state and its institutions.

# US president Donald Trump says he has formed the framework of a future deal on Greenland, after a meeting with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation chief, Mark Rutte, in Davos, Switzerland. Reportedly, part of the prospective deal includes renegotiating the 1951 agreement that formalised US military presence on the island. On Truth Social, Trump said tariffs are no longer needed on European nations that opposed his ambitions. Rutte says discussions on the framework would focus on ensuring security for the entire Arctic region:

# Cricket: The Pretoria Capitals beat Sunrisers Eastern Cape by seven wickets in Qualifier 1 in Kingsmead, Durban, to book their place in Sunday’s SA20 final. Bryce Parsons took three wickets to restrict Sunrisers to 170 for seven. In reply, Dewald Brevis scored an unbeaten 75 with Parsons making 60 as the Pretoria Capitals won with nine balls to spare. The Sunrisers will have a second chance to reach the final when they face the winners of the first Eliminator match between the Paarl Royals and Joburg Super Kings.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-27-cents and the euro at 19-rand-1-cent. One British pound costs 21-rand-84-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 89-thousand-906-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-790-dollars-5-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-68-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….