News 11:00

BULLETIN 8 January 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Presidency says there is no legal obligation to make the National Director of Public Prsecutions panel’s report public
# Britain helped the US to seize a Russian-flagged tanker
# And cricket: Australia claims a 4-1 Ashes series victory over England

# The Presidency says it will not release the report president Cyril Ramaphosa received from the advisory panel tasked with finding a suitable candidate for the National Director of Public Prosecutions position. Ramaphosa has appointed Andy Mothibi for the position despite him not being among the six candidates interviewed. In its report, the panel advised the president that none of the interviewed candidates were suitable. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, told News24 there is no legal obligation for the report to be made public.

# Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, is calling for increased vigilance and intensified monitoring in hotspot areas to prevent any further loss of life of initiates. During the 2025 summer initiation season, 48 initiates’ deaths were recorded, with the Eastern Cape and the Free State recording the highest number of fatalities. The department’s spokesperson, Pearl Maseko-Binqose, says the success of the initiation process depends on coordinated action by all stakeholders:

# The DA says the Gauteng government has placed only 606 grade one and grade eight learners over the past two weeks. More than four-thousand children remain without schools, with less than a week before reopening. The party believes late admissions, poor planning, and a lack of transparency are at the centre of the crisis. The DA’s Sergio Isa dos Santos claims some parents are being offered placements up to 95 kilometres from home, placing a heavy financial burden on families.

Moving abroad:

# British Defence Secretary, John Healey, says the United Kingdom helped the US seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker as part of efforts to combat shadow shipping activity and crack down on sanctions evasion. US forces boarded the Marinera in the North Atlantic yesterday. Healey says he authorised the use of Army bases in the UK and the deployment of Royal Navy and Royal Air Force assets to support the operation:

# Cricket: Australia secured a five-wicket victory over England in the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney to take the series 4-1. The visitors’ second innings ended on 342 on the final day, with Jacob Bethell scoring 154. Australia managed to chase down the target of 160 in 31.2 overs. Player of the series, Mitchell Starc, who took 31 wickets, conceded he was a little bit tired after a draining contest:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-47-cents and the euro at 19-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-16-cents and Bitcoin trades at 89-thousand-754-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-434-dollars-51-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 60-dollars-3-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….