News 11:00

BULLETIN 31 January 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Julius Malema warns of potential US interference in South Africa’s local elections
# The Steve Biko inquest will resume in Gqeberha next month
# And thousands demonstrate in Minnesota and across the US against the ICE

# EFF leader Julius Malema cautions that South Africa’s upcoming local government elections could face interference from the US and Western powers through propaganda, funding rivals, and destabilisation tactics. Addressing the Plenum of the third national people’s Assembly, Malema said expectations of stabilised relations post-Trump are misplaced. Malema urged South Africans to resist efforts targeting leftist leaders. He stressed the importance of protecting national sovereignty and standing firm against external pressures:

# The inquest into anti-apartheid activist Steve Bantu Biko’s 1977 death in police custody will return to Gqeberha High Court on 20 February for case management. The hearing was postponed to allow the State to finalise appointments of attorneys for persons of interest expected to testify. The reopened inquest aims to determine if anyone can be held criminally responsible, revisiting apartheid-era deaths alongside ongoing inquests into the Cradock Four.

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South Africans to unite behind Bafana Bafana ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the US, Mexico, and Canada. Ramaphosa was speaking at the Union Buildings in Pretoria during the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, where he received the original trophy. The president said its arrival symbolises hope and pride, praising South Africa’s return to the global stage after 16 years:

# Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Minneapolis in subzero temperatures and students across the United States staged walkouts on Friday. They demanded the withdrawal of federal immigration agents from Minnesota following the fatal shootings of two US citizens. Under a national immigration crackdown, President Donald Trump has sent three-thousand federal officers to the Minneapolis area. Students and teachers abandoned classes from California to New York. Protests stretched well beyond Minnesota as organisers forecast 250 demonstrations across 46 states and in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington.

# Tennis: Alexander Zverev condemned officials for allowing Carlos Alcaraz a medical time-out for a leg problem after falling in an epic five-setter to the Spaniard in the Australian Open’s longest semifinal on Friday. World number one Alcaraz was struggling to move in the third set and was allowed treatment on his right thigh. Zverev was adamant Alcaraz was struggling with cramp which is out-of-bounds for medical time-outs. Zverev was serving for the match at 5-4 in the fifth set but Alcaraz won the next three games to leave the German with another near-miss at the Grand Slams.

# And finally: Health experts warn that sugar substitutes are not a free pass to overindulge, despite their benefits for weight management and diabetes. Alternatives like stevia, aspartame, and sugar alcohols are generally safe, but effects vary by individual. Registered dietitian Marlene Ellmer advises moderation, noting that while sweeteners can reduce sugar intake and prevent tooth decay, they should not encourage excessive consumption of sweet foods. She emphasised that awareness and balance remain key for healthy dietary choices.

Stay tuned for more news………….