News 11:00

BULLETIN 17 January 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Concerns are rising amid increased doubt about South Africa’s electoral system
# The US Senate rejects a resolution on human rights violations in Gaza
# And tennis, Ons Jabeur and Caroline Wozniacki are both knocked out of the Australian Open

# Political analyst Amanda Gouws has cautioned against the recent rhetoric casting doubt on South Africa’s electoral system, deeming it dangerous. This comes in the backdrop of statements made by former president Jacob Zuma and ex-ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule, raising ballot-rigging speculations and concerns about the credibility of the electoral process. Gouws advised that such utterances are a potential threat to the democratic foundation:

Meanwhile, the Independent Electoral Commission has allocated five-million-rand to political parties represented in Parliament, with the ANC being the biggest party receiving the largest share. This is in line with regulations governing the multi-party democracy fund. The IEC told News24 the money will be allocated to each party under the formula of proportional share which is 67-percent and equitable share which is 33-percent. It says the formula of proportional share is based on the number of seats or representation that the party has in the National Assembly and provincial legislatures.

# The DA in KwaZulu-Natal has expressed concern over the high number of matric final examination cheating cases in the province. Quality assurer Umalusi revealed that evidence of group copying was found mostly in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. A total of 763 cases were reported in KZN. The Department of Basic Education will release the National Senior Certificate results tomorrow. The DA’s Imran Keeka says the department needs to strengthen security at examination centres:

# The US Senate has rejected a resolution that would have required the State Department to report on human rights violations that possibly occurred, using American equipment in Israel’s war in Gaza. The resolution, which was rejected by 72 votes to eleven, was led by progressive independent Bernie Sanders. The US gives Israel 72-billion-rand in security assistance each year, ranging from fighter jets to powerful bombs. Sanders says the resolution was the beginning of his efforts to limit the war’s devastation:

# Tennis: Sixth seed and three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur and 2018 champion Caroline Wozniacki have been knocked out in the second round of the Australian Open. Sixteen-year-old Mirra Andreeva of Russia stunned Tunisia’s Jabeur 6-love, 6-2 to claim her first top ten victory. Russian qualifier Maria Timofeeva came from a set down to beat Wozniacki of Denmark, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1. World number four Coco Gauff defeated fellow American Caroline Dolehide, 7-6, 6-2, to make the third round in Melbourne.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-2-cents and the euro at 20-rand-67-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-3-cents and Bitcoin trades at 42-thousand-794-dollars-71-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-18-dollars-65-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-55-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….