News 12:00

BULLETIN 30 January 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa continues its downward trajectory on the Corruption Perceptions Index
# The DA is calling for the withdrawal of the notice for the new nuclear power procurement
# And rugby: Marcus Smith’s injury is a concern for England ahead of the Six Nations opener

# South Africa has dropped a further two points to 41 in the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, the country’s lowest score to date. The index scores 180 countries and territories around the world by their perceived levels of public-sector corruption. South Africa is one of 23 countries that reached their lowest-ever scores this year, stumbling into the category of flawed democracies. Corruption Watch’s executive director, Karam Singh, says the fight for justice and the fight against corruption go hand in hand, as where the justice system is unable to uphold the rule of law, corruption thrives.

# The DA is calling for the immediate withdrawal of the determination in the Government Gazette for South Africa to procure two-thousand-500 megawatts of nuclear power. Electricity minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has put the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy under minister Gwede Mantashe in charge of starting a fair, transparent, equitable, cost-effective and competitive process to procure nuclear energy. The DA’s Kevin Mileham says the determination notice issued last week Friday is irregular:

# The Western Cape Education Department has announced plans to assign specialists to underperforming schools to help improve their matric performance results. The decision comes after one of the schools achieved a pass rate of only 35.9-percent. Spokesperson Bronagh Hammond told Newzroom Afrika the department aims to provide targeted support to schools facing challenges, and ensure improved educational outcomes:

# Rugby: Flyhalf Marcus Smith is a major doubt for England’s opening Six Nations match against Italy on Saturday. This is after he limped out of yesterday’s training session and was later seen using crutches. Smith’s injury means Steve Borthwick’s side may be left with just two fly-halves in George Ford and the uncapped Fin Smith. England are already without the likes of Manu Tuilagi, Ollie Lawrence, and Anthony Watson, due to injury. Attack coach, Richard Wigglesworth, says if Smith is not fit it will be a blow for the team.

# And finally: At the age of 80 singer-songwriter, Joni Mitchell, will perform at this year’s Grammy Awards for the very first time. Best known for her hit Big Yellow Taxi, she is a nominee in the Best Folk Album category for her 2023 live album Joni Mitchell at Newport. The nine-time Grammy award winner was forced to re-learn how to walk, talk and play guitar after suffering a near-fatal brain aneurysm in 2015. The Grammys will take place in Los Angeles on Sunday and will be hosted by South African comedian Trevor Noah.

Stay tuned for more news………….