News 08:00

BULLETIN 31 January 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Shamila Batohi calls for an overhaul of the criminal justice system
# Mandla Mandela welcomes the diplomatic move against Israel
# And Donald Trump says Putin will not attack any cities in Ukraine amidst the cold snap

# Outgoing National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi has called for stronger crime intelligence, tougher action against delaying tactics, and better protection for investigators, prosecutors, and whistleblowers. Presenting the National Prosecuting Authority’s progress report, Batohi stressed the need to align performance across the justice system. In addition, she welcomed the progress at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, calling for a full review to root out systemic rot:

# The tribal chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council and activist Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela has welcomed South Africa’s decision to declare Israel’s chargé d’affaires, Ariel Seidman, persona non grata, calling it long overdue. The International Relations and Cooperation Department says the decision follows violations of diplomatic norms, including attacks on president Cyril Ramaphosa. Israel has since expelled South Africa’s Palestine representative Shaun Edward Byneveldt. Speaking to SABC News, Mandela said the move reflects former president Nelson Mandela’s historic support for Palestine.

# The ANC in Johannesburg says coalition partners, not leadership paralysis, are causing instability in the city. The party rejects claims by Minority Governing Parties as reckless and misleading, insisting that decisions on ANC deployments and recalls are guided solely by its own structures. ANC’s regional spokesperson Mantombi Nkosi says the party vows to continue governing in the interests of Johannesburg residents, while restoring stability and improving service delivery:

# US president Donald Trump said his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, had agreed not to attack Kyiv and “various towns” during a cold snap. The Kremlin confirmed it had agreed to cease attacks on Kyiv until Sunday to “create favourable conditions” for peace talks. While the US president did not say when the pause would begin, air raid alerts sounded in just eight Ukrainian regions overnight into Friday, with two minor injuries recorded in Zaporizhzhia. Temperatures in the capital, Kyiv, are due to plummet to -24 degrees Celsius over the coming days.

# Tennis: Two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and fifth-seeded Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan will fight it out for the Australian Open women’s crown today. Top-seeded Sabalenka won the tournament in 2023 and ’24, while Rybakina plays in the final for the first time after previously only being able to reach the third round in Melbourne. Rybakina’s only Grand Slam title came at Wimbledon in 2022, but she impressed so far this season. Sabalenka also won the American Open twice – in 2024 and again last year.

# And finally, Eastern Cape Health MEC Ntandokazi Capa has officially launched the province’s first in vitro fertilization clinic at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, making it one of only four public facilities nationwide offering the service. MEC spokesperson Camagwini Mavovana says the clinic will help address infertility affecting up to 15-percent of couples, especially in rural areas. The unit features a fully equipped lab and specialised staff, providing affordable reproductive care to about 3.6-million people across the province.

Stay tuned for more news………….