News 11:00

BULLETIN 13 January 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Zondo admits to an error in the state capture evidence
# Biden and Netanyahu discuss the progress with the Gaza ceasefire
# And tennis: Stefanos Tsitsipas and Victoria Azarenka are knocked out of the Australian Open

# Former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has admitted that evidence from the State Capture Inquiry on the State Security Agency’s unaccounted nine-billion-rand during Arthur Fraser’s tenure was an error. In 2021, the inquiry heard that nine-billion-rand the agency spent on cars, specialised surveillance equipment, and properties used for cover was missing. According to News24, in court papers, Zondo said the commission did not have access to documents including the Auditor-General’s report, at the time that the evidence was given. He added that the correct amount was reflected in his final report.

# Cosatu is calling on Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi to engage with the South African Medical Association Trade Union, in formulating a strategy that will result in the employment of hundreds of qualified doctors. SAMATU says it was aware of at least 450 qualified doctors who had completed their community service but were still without jobs. Cosatu’s, Zanele Sabela, says the success of the National Health Insurance heavily depends on strengthening the human resources in public health facilities:

# A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with the killing of eight people at a liquor outlet in Pienaar in Mpumalanga, on Saturday morning. Six people died at the scene and two other victims, a man and woman, succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Police spokesperson, Jabu Ndubane, says the suspect was found with a firearm with about 13 live ammunition:

# US president Joe Biden and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone on Sunday, discussing progress in negotiations to reach a ceasefire and a hostage release deal in Gaza. This comes as Biden pushes for a deal to stop the fighting before president-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House next week. The White House says Biden stressed the immediate need for a ceasefire and the return of the hostages, with a surge in humanitarian aid enabled by a stoppage in the fighting under the deal.

# Tennis: 2023 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece has been knocked out in the first round of the Australian Open. American Alex Michelsen defeated the eleventh seed, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, to claim his first top 20 win at a major. Defending champion Jannik Sinner of Italy dispatched Chile’s Nicolás Jarry, 7-6, 7-6, 6-1. In the women’s draw, Iga Swiatek of Poland defeated Czech Republic’s Katerina Siniakova, 6-3, 6-4, while two-time champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus suffered a 6-2, 7-6, defeat to Italian Lucia Bronzetti.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-14-cents and the euro at 19-rand-55-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-24-cents and Bitcoin trades at 93-thousand-492-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-688-dollars-10-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 80-dollars-35-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….