News 11:00

BULLETIN 28 January 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Mchunu denies allegations made by Witness E against him at the Madlanga commission
# OUTA slams Eskom’s solar threats as irrational and unfair
# And tennis: Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula are through to the Australian Open semifinals

# Suspended Police minister Senzo Mchunu has denied allegations made by undercover police operative known as Witness E at the Madlanga commission as inaccurate and untruthful. Witness E alleged Mchunu persuaded him to make a false statement in favour of the minister, saying he rejected the request. Mchunu says he will respond to the allegations when he reappears before the commission, and his lawyers are dealing with the matter.

# The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse says homeowners with solar systems should not be forced to register with Eskom or municipalities. The organisation has criticised recent threats of fines and disconnections as impractical, unfair and causing confusion, anxiety, and delays for installations. OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage warns coercive enforcement creates unnecessary fear, vowing to protect electricity users from administrative overreach:

# AfriForum says Free State premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae must act against an illegitimate king claiming to lead the Bakholokoe Kingdom. According to the organisation, Seka Moloi has illegally occupied farms in Harrismith and faces multiple court cases. AfriForum’s Barend Uys calls on the provincial government to uphold the law, protect property rights, and safeguard the integrity of traditional leadership:

Moving abroad:

# British prime minister Keir Starmer says with China being one of the world’s biggest economic players, a strategic and consistent relationship with them is firmly in their national interest. He begins his three-day visit to China today, as he aims to stabilise relations with president Xi Jinping after years of tensions over security, Hong Kong and human rights abuses. Starmer says his visit could bring significant opportunities for British companies:

# Tennis: 2023 runner-up Elena Rybakina is through to the Australian Open semifinals. The Kazakhstani fifth seed defeated world number two Iga Swiatek to deny the Polish player’s latest bid to win a career Grand Slam. Rybakina lost in three sets to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the 2023 final. She will face Jessica Pegula for a place in Saturday’s final after the American beat compatriot Amanda Anisimova to make her first semifinal in Melbourne. The other semifinal will see Sabalenka facing Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-80-cents and the euro at 18-rand-96-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 89-thousand-138-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-268-dollars-10-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-61-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….