News 09:00

BULLETIN 12 January 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Nzimande dismisses reports that he intends to increase university fees
# America and the United Kingdom carry out air strikes against targets linked to a Houthi militant group
# And tennis: Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev will battle Novak Djokovic for the world number one ranking in Melbourne

# Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Blade Nzimande, says he has become aware of false reports that he intends to increase university fees for this academic year. He has proposed that South Africa’s 26 universities increase tuition and residence fees by 4.5-percent and 6.5-percent respectively. The department’s spokesperson, Veli Mbele, says the minister plays absolutely no role in determining the fees of universities as this lies with the University Councils, but gives guidance:

Meanwhile the South African Union of Students has opposed Nzimande’s proposed 4.5-percent fee hike for tertiary institutions from 2025 to ’27. SAUS deputy secretary-general, Asive Dlanjwa, argues this increase would diminish the number of students covered by funding schemes, disproportionately impacting disadvantaged students. With an anticipated ten-percent budget cut for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme this year, Dlanjwa warns raising fees could place additional financial strain on beneficiaries, further hindering access to education for those in need.

# The GOOD party in Nelson Mandela Bay has submitted a motion of no confidence in mayor Gary van Niekerk, as part of efforts to restore stability and ethical leadership in the municipality. Last year the mayor survived several motions of no-confidence votes. The GOOD Party’s, Janke Tolmay, says Van Niekerk has displayed escalating levels of incompetence, which has led to the significant deterioration of municipal affairs and a severe lack of ethical leadership:

# The US and UK militaries have launched strikes against multiple Houthi targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. This is the first time strikes have been launched against the Iran-backed militant group since it started targeting international shipping in the Red Sea last year, in protest against Israel’s war in Gaza. US president Joe Biden says he will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect Americans and the free flow of international commerce as necessary. British prime minister Rishi Sunak says the strikes are limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defence.

# Tennis: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz both have a shot at finishing the Australian Open as world number one. Defending champion Djokovic currently holds a slender 200-point lead over 20-year-old Alcaraz. The Spaniard has no points to defend after missing the Australian Open last year due to injury. Russia’s Daniil Medvedev also has a chance of returning to world number one following the Australian Open, but he will need to win the title and not have either Djokovic or Alcaraz reach the semifinals.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-60-cents and the euro at 20-rand-42-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 45-thousand-998-dollars-20-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-34-dollars-69-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-74-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….