News 13:00

BULLETIN 22 January 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The driver in the Vanderbijlpark learner transport accident now faces murder charges
# Rugby: Eight stadiums are lined up for the 2027 World Cup in Australia
# And the rand hits its strongest level in three years

# The driver in Monday’s fatal learner transport accident in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, is now facing 14 murder charges. Twenty-two-year-old Ayanda Dludla appeared in the local Magistrate’s Court for the first time this morning, where he abandoned bail. The case was postponed to 5 March. Twelve learners died on the scene after the minibus taxi collided with a truck, and two succumbed to their injuries in hospital today. Dludla also faces three counts of attempted murder, and one of driving without a valid Professional Driving Permit.

Meanwhile, minister of Transport Barbara Creecy says more regulations are needed for both public and private learner transport operators. She inspected learner transport in Lenasia, Gauteng, this morning. Creecy says 60 learner transport vehicles have been impounded by law enforcement agencies in the Lenasia area for non-compliance:

# The Cape Winelands Municipality says active firefighting operations are continuing in the mountains above Franschhoek. The blaze started on Saturday and has raged through large parts of the Franschhoek Valley. The municipality’s Jo-Anne Otto says multiple flare-ups occurred late yesterday afternoon, causing several fire lines to spread rapidly up the mountain slopes:

# Rugby: Eight stadiums across Australia have been confirmed as host venues for next year’s World Cup. Sydney’s Olympic Stadium will be the centrepiece of the tournament. The 80-thousand-seat venue will host the final on 13 November, both semi-finals, the third-place playoff, two quarter-finals and two pool matches. Sydney’s Soccer Stadium will also play a key role, staging three pool games and two round of 16 fixtures. The tournament kicks off in Perth with the opening match on 1 October.

# And financial news: The rand reached its best level against the American dollar in three years. Record-high gold prices, driven by heightened geopolitical risks, also supported the rand and lifted South African assets. Senior economist Lee Hardman at MUFG in London says the strong perfomance is also assisted by improved risk sentiment. Meanwhile, economic data shows South African inflation remains under control, which should give the Reserve Bank room to cut interest rates.

The dollar currently trades at 16-rand-17-cents and the euro at 18-rand-91-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-73-cents and Bitcoin trades at 89-thousand-920-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-830-dollars-14-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-15-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….