News 12:00

BULLETIN 27 January 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The South African Defence Force is criticised for the lack of support after soldiers die in DRC
# TLU SA warns the Expropriation Act threatens food security
# And tennis: The American Tommy Paul cracks into the top ten in the world rankings for the first time

# The South African Defence Force Union’s national secretary, Pikkie Greeff, blames inadequate support for the deaths of nine South African soldiers in Goma during an M23 rebel attack on Thursday. The soldiers’ resistance prevented M23 forces from taking Goma, amidst challenging conditions. Despite heroic efforts halting the rebels’ advance, Greeff criticised poor communication on fatalities and injuries:

# Agricultural organisation TLU SA says the controversial Expropriation Act is a serious attack on the foundation of property rights, threatening not only farmers but all South Africans. The recently signed law outlines the state’s procedure for land expropriation in the public interest. TLU SA’s Bennie van Zy, says government presents this law as an instrument for transformation, but the reality is that it will have far-reaching negative consequences for food security, investor confidence, and economic stability:

# Convicted murderer, Janusz Waluś, says he has no regrets about assassinating SACP secretary-general Chris Hani in 1993, and he would do it again if it meant halting the transition to a democratic South Africa. Hani was gunned down in the driveway of his home in Boksburg. Walus was deported to Poland last year after serving nearly 30 years in prison. In an exclusive interview with eNCA‘s Annika Larsen, Waluś says the Truth and Reconciliation Commission denying him amnesty was a travesty of justice:

# Tennis: American Tommy Paul has been the biggest mover in the latest ATP world rankings as he has cracked into the top ten for the first time in his career. The 27-year-old, who reached the Australian Open quarterfinals, jumped two places to a career-high world number nine. Italian Jannik Sinner, who won his second consecutive Australian Open title yesterday, continues to occupy the number one spot. Germany’s Alexander Zverev, who lost to Sinner in the final in Melbourne, is second with Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in third.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-58-cents and the euro at 19-rand-45-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-12-cents and Bitcoin trades at 98-thousand-97-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-755-dollars-63-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-32-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Thirty-four-year-old Japanese man, Yuji “Gump” Suzuki has completed a six-thousand-kilometre journey from Kenya to South Africa on foot while pulling a rickshaw. Starting in July last year, he travelled through Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia. Known for his global treks, Suzuki previously completed journeys from China to India, across Europe, and the United States. At the end of his journey, an emotional Suzuki thanked all his supporters for the encouragement in his quest.

Stay tuned for more news………….