News 09:00

BULLETIN 21 January 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Lesetja Kganyago says the Reserve Bank will pursue the country’s new inflation target with vigour
# SAFTU condemns the salary increases for public office bearers
# And Air Force One with Trump on board had to turn around due to an electrical fault

# South African Reserve Bank Governor, Lesetja Kganyago, says while the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee remains focused on dealing with inflation, Treasury has been dealing with fiscal consolidation and reforms that can help the economy. Last year, government and the central bank lowered the inflation target for the first time in 25-years to three-percent. Kganyago is part of South Africa’s delegation attending the World Economic Forum in Switzerland this week. He says SARB is focused on its price stability mandate and, importantly, will pursue the new inflation target with vigour.

# The South African Federation of Trade Unions has condemned president Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to approve salary increases for public office bearers. Members of the National Executive, Parliament, provincial executive councils and provincial legislatures will see their salaries increase by 3.8-percent. Judges, magistrates, traditional leaders and members of independent constitutional institutions will receive a 4.1-percent increase. Saftu’s Asive Dyani says this decision comes at a time when workers are told to accept wage restraint, job losses and austerity:

# The DA is calling on the Gauteng Serious Crimes Unit to urgently and thoroughly investigate the shooting of DJ Bongani Mfito. This follows reports that this case, and the murder of City of Ekurhuleni auditor Mpho Mafole, are allegedly linked to Ekurhuleni mayor, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza. The DA’s Brandon Pretorius says Mafole was shot and killed days after he submitted a report detailing irregularities regarding a highly lucrative chemical toilet tender issued by the metro:

# Air Force One, the plane carrying US president Donald Trump, was forced to return to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Washington, shortly after departing for Switzerland. The White House says the crew on board identified a minor electrical issue and, out of an abundance of caution, decided to turn around. It says Trump will board another aircraft and continue on with his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he is expected to address the gathering today.

# Soccer: Arsenal maintained their 100-percent record in the Champions League this season, beating Inter Milan 3-1, to guarantee themselves a top-two finish in the league phase of the competition. Two goals from Gabriel Jesus and one from Viktor Gyökeres saw the Gunners qualify for the last 16. Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain lost 2-1 against Sporting. Manchester City were stunned 3-1 by Bodo/Glimt, leaving their hopes of avoiding the play-off round in a precarious position. Fifteen-time champions Real Madrid thrashed Monaco 6-1 to boost their chances of reaching the last 16.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-40-cents and the euro at 19-rand-22-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-4-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 89-thousand-251-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-844-dollars-74-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….