News 13:00

BULLETIN 13 January 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Ministry of Human Settlements says a statement about travel expenditure is misleading
# The Western Cape is still besieged by wildfires
# And cricket: An Indian allrounder is in doubt for the World Cup after a fitness issue against New Zealand

# The Ministry of Human Settlements says ActionSA’s claims that the department has spent 32.98-million-rand on travel expenses abroad are misleading. The party alleges the ministers in the government of national unity have spent at least 45-million-rand in travel and accommodation expenses during their first 18 months in office. The department’s spokesperson, Tsekiso Machike, says minister Thembi Simelane’s travel costs have been in line with the prescripts of cost containment measures of the National Treasury:

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Defence and Military Veterans is inviting the public to comment on two bills. The Defence Amendment Bill proposes excluding military judges from boards of inquiry, while the Military Discipline Supplementary Measures Amendment Bill seeks to establish a Military Judicial Advisory Committee and set rules for appointing and removing senior military judges. Written submissions must be sent by the end of this month.

# SANParks says it has been working closely with municipal authorities and fire management partners to respond to multiple fire outbreaks in the Cape Region, particularly in areas covering Agulhas and Table Mountain National Parks. The fires in Agulhas National Park and Pearly Beach are under control, whilst the blaze in Stanford is still ongoing. SANParks spokesperson, JP Louw, says there have been no fatalities or damage to properties:

Meanwhile, the Overstrand Municipality in the Western Cape says the fire line above Bye-nes-krans has started to burn again, higher up on the mountain. Municipal manager Dean O’Neill says a change in wind direction is expected, which will place significant pressure on the existing long and hot fire containment lines. He adds flare-ups remain a strong possibility:

# Cricket: Indian allrounder Washington Sundar is a doubt for the T20 World Cup in his country and Sri Lanka after being forced out of the remaining two one-day matches against New Zealand. He experienced discomfort in the ribs during Sunday’s opening match, and the squad will seek expert opinion on his fitness. Sundar was replaced by Ayush Badoni for the second ODI, taking place in Rajkot tomorrow, and the final one in Indore on Sunday. The World Cup starts on 7 February.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-41-cents and the euro at 19-rand-15-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-12-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-268-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-591-dollars-70-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-19-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….