News 11:00

BULLETIN 25 January 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Federal immigration agents kill another American citizen in Minneapolis, with major protests erupting
# Minister Enoch Godongwana says government will deliver on its commitment to stabilise debt
# And in tennis: Carlos Alcaraz eases into last eight in a bid for maiden Australian Open title

# US immigration agents shot and killed a US citizen in Minneapolis yesterday, sparking fierce protests and condemnations from local leaders in the second such incident this month. The Department of Homeland Security described the incident as an attack, saying a Border Patrol agent fired in self-defence. The shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, drew hundreds of protesters to the neighborhood to confront the armed and masked agents, who deployed tear gas and flashbang grenades. Demonstrations also broke out in New York, Washington DC and San Francisco.

# Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana emphasized that government would deliver on its commitment to stabilise debt in the current fiscal year. Godongwana, who lead a minsterial delegation to the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland said this signalled its commitment to macroeconomic stability and consistent policy execution, needed to create an environment for higher local and global investment. The minister also noted that the recent lowering of the inflation target would contribute to reducing costs across the economy and providing policy and price certainty for investors.

# Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa highlighted that 2026 will be a challenging year for the Department’s portfolio, as local government elections are fast approaching. He says the 2026/2027 local government elections will usher in a new term of government, which may be characterised by coalition councils. The minister says elections will take place following the adoption of the revised White Paper on Local Government, which is expected to be finalised early this year.

# Funeral services for several of the 14 learners killed in the Vanderbijlpark scholar transport crash on Monday, are underway in Sebokeng. Thato Maetji, Ofentse Vinger and Bokamoso Mokhobo will be laid to rest today following a joint memorial service held on Friday to honour the victims. Gauteng provincial government spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga says scholar transport operators are urged to comply with regulations to prevent such tragedies in future:

# Eskom has installed 267-thousand-17 smart meters nationwide, of which 88-thousand-674 have been deployed on load reduction feeders. The power utlity’s spokesperson Daphne Mokwena says these installations empower customers with greater visibility and control over their electricity consumption, support accurate billing, and significantly enhance the overall user experience. She says of the smart meters installed on load reduction feeders, 90-percent are concentrated in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal, where network risk is highest:

# Tennis: Carlos Alcaraz is on track for a maiden Australian Open title after dismissing American Tommy Paul in straight sets. The six-time Grand Slam champion is now through to the last eight and is yet to drop a set. Alcaraz has been strong on serve, after struggling with precision and a lack of consistency in the past. His new-look serve has been compared to Novak Djokovic who earlier joked he is expecting a slice of the Spaniard’s winnings. Taking the title will make Alcaraz the youngest man in history to win a career Grand Slam of all four majors.

Stay tuned for more news………….