News 13:00

BULLETIN 27 January 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ATM applauds the ICJ’s historic judgment on South Africa’s case against Israel
# South Africans in the UK display the most interest in taking part in the elections
# And, soccer: Afcon’s round of 16 begins in Ivory Coast today

# The African Transformation Movement hails the International Court of Justice’s ruling against Israel as a milestone for justice and peace in Gaza. ATM’s national spokesperson, Zama Ntshona, sees the ICJ’s directives to prevent acts of genocide as crucial for justice and accountability. Ntshona emphasises the importance of ensuring basic services and humanitarian aid for Palestinians. He reaffirms ATM’s commitment to upholding human rights and supporting Gaza and Palestine for a future marked by dialogue, understanding and lasting peace:

In its reaction, the Al Jama-ah party lauds the court’s ruling as South Africa’s proudest achievement in its 30-year democracy. The party rejects the South African Zionist Federation’s characterisation of the ruling as a blow to the ANC government. Al Jama-ah’s leader Ganief Hendricks celebrates the court order as a significant victory, criticising Ugandan judge Julia Sebutinde for her dissenting vote. Hendricks says her vote is contrary to the African value of ubuntu:

# South Africans living in the United Kingdom have notably demonstrated the most interest in taking part in the forthcoming national elections. Britain leads the pack with the highest number of online voter registrations so far. The Independent Electoral Commission opened voter registrations for over 18-thousand-469 citizens living in 101 countries around the world, using the newly launched online registration portal system. The IEC encourages South Africans living in Sudan, Israel and Ukraine to also register despite uncertainties in their ability to vote.

# Soccer: The African Cup of Nations’ round of 16 gets going in the Ivory Coast today. First up, Namibia will face neighbours Angola at seven o’clock tonight, followed by the match between Nigeria and Cameroon. Tomorrow night, Equatorial Guinea plays Guinea and Egypt takes on DR Congo. On Monday, it will be Cape Verde against Mauritania, and Senegal against the hosts. And on Tuesday, Bafana Bafana will play Morocco, after the match between Mali and Burkina Faso.

# And finally: The Smile ID Digital Identity Fraud in Africa Report reveals national identity documents are the primary target for fraudsters, with 80-percent of attacks focused on them. Smile ID CEO Mark Straub notes document and biometric fraud reached record highs in the fourth-quarter of 2023. The report warns while connectivity offers benefits, it exposes people and systems to criminal exploitation, posing risks to Africa’s digital future and economy. Straub emphasises preventing identity fraud will mitigate financial fraud as connectivity in Africa expands.

Stay tuned for more news………….