News 09:00

BULLETIN 30 January 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Kagame accuses Ramaphosa of being dishonest over the DRC conflict
# Minister Steenhuisen will appoint an advisory committee to achieve the objectives of the Agricultural Land Act
# And the Asset Forfeiture Unit attached properties linked to fraud and theft of 157-million-rand

# Rwandan president Paul Kagame has accused president Cyril Ramaphosa of distorting and lying about the issues they discussed on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He alleged that Ramaphosa had privately admitted that South African troops killed in the DRC were not attacked by the M23 rebels but by the Congolese military, FARDC. This comes after Ramaphosa accused Rwanda of supporting M23. Kagame says South Africa is in no position to take on the role of a peacemaker or mediator:

# Solidarity says it is encouraged by the findings and recommendations of the Special Investigating Unit’s report, which exposed large-scale corruption at Denel. The board of directors of arms procurement firm Armscor in 2007 allegedly approved the purchase of 264 Badger vehicles from Denel in a ten-year contract worth 8.3-billion. Armscor paid more than 8.1-billion-rand, but only 21 vehicles were built and completed, and the entity has not yet taken delivery of them. Solidarity’s, Derek Mans, says accountability is needed at Denel:

# Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen says an advisory committee, including not more than ten members, will be established to advise on achieving the objectives of the Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Bill Act. The law sets out a countrywide policy and regulatory framework for the preservation, and development of agricultural land. It is estimated that less than 13-percent of South Africa’s 122-million hectares of land is high-potential agriculture land. Steenhuisen says improving food security is one of the department’s seven strategic priorities.

# Members of the Asset Forfeiture Unit and the Hawks have seized and attached properties of 15 individuals in Roodepoort, Randburg, Krugersdorp, and Pretoria. They are alleged to have committed fraud and theft amounting to 157-million-rand from Nedbank during the period July 2018 to January 2023. National Prosecuting Authority’s spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane, says items that were attached at the various locations include laptops, cellphones, about 80-thousand-rand in cash, a cash counting machine, and licensed handguns and assault rifles:

# Soccer: Defending champions Real Madrid will compete in the Champions League play-offs in a bid to reach the last 16 after Rodrygo’s brace led them to a three-nil win over Brest. Madrid finished the opening phase of the competition in eleventh and will face either Manchester City or Celtic in the play-offs. City came from behind to beat Club Brugge three-one and finish 22nd of the 24 qualified teams to secure a playoff spot. Teams including Liverpool, Arsenal, PSG, and Aston Villa are straight through to the last 16.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-53-cents and the euro at 19-rand-31-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-7-cents and Bitcoin trades at 105-thousand-131-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-762-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-39-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….