News 11:00

BULLETIN 7 January 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The TRC prosecutions commission is not concerned by Zuma and Mbeki’s recusal applications against Khampepe
# Ramaphosa appoints Leonard Lekgetho as acting head of the Special Investigating Unit
# And golf: The LPGA ladies are getting their own version of the TGL Golf League

# The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s prosecutions commission says chairperson Sisi Khampepe is determined to fulfil the commission’s terms of reference. This comes as former presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki have filed applications seeking her recusal. The applications cite alleged conflicts of interest, misconduct, and apprehension of bias. Spokesperson Lionel Adendorf told Newzroom Afrika the recusal applications are not a cause for concern:

# With the appointment of Andy Mothibi as new National Director of Public Prosecutions, leaving a vacancy at the Special Investigating Unit, president Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Leonard Lekgetho as the acting SIU head, effective from next month. He is currently serving as the Chief Operations Official. The Presidency says Lekgetho has more than 22 years of forensic investigations experience, including serving as a forensic investigator at the then directorate of special operations, known as the Scorpions.

# The Mossel Bay Municipality in the Southern Cape says firefighters have managed to contain the large fire in Aalwyndal, Island View, Vakansieplaas and surrounding areas. The blaze, which destroyed several structures and vehicles, resulted in evacuation orders being enforced yesterday. The N2, which was closed for several hours between the Langeberg Mall off‑ramp and Dana Bay, direction Cape Town, due to heavy smoke and unsafe visibility conditions last night, has been reopened. The municipality says containment operations and monitoring will continue throughout the day.

Moving abroad:

# US president Donald Trump says Venezuela will turn over 30- to 50-million barrels of oil to America, to be sold at market value and with the proceeds controlled by his administration. This follows the military operation in Caracas which resulted in the capture of president Nicolás Maduro and his wife. In a post on Truth Social, Trump says he has directed Energy secretary Chris Wright to execute the plan, and the barrels will be taken by storage ships and brought directly to unloading docks in the US.

# Golf: The TGL Golf League, launched by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, will launch a virtual women’s league called WTGL this year. The world’s best women players will compete in a season of team matchplay in the SoFi Centre in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where TGL has staged its matches the past two seasons. Ladies Professional Golf Association star, Lexi Thompson, says this is a great opportunity for the women’s game:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-39-cents and the euro at 19-rand-17-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-15-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-639-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-447-dollars-66-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 59-dollars-74-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….