News 13:00

BULLETIN 30 January 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA welcomes the SIU investigation into a 300-million-rand scandal at Transnet 
# The Thinc Foundation says Zuma’s action is a tumor that needed surgical attention 
# And cricket: A Windies bowler returns home after his heroics in Brisbane

# The DA has welcomed the decision by president Ramaphosa Ramaphosa to issue and sign a proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit to launch an investigation into the 300-million-rand allegations of corruption leveled against Transnet National Ports Authority CEO, Pepi Silinga. The DA’s Mimmy Gondwe says last week Wednesday, the party wrote to Ramaphosa and requested that he authorise the SIU to investigate the allegations given their serious nature as well as the scale of money involved:

# The Thinc Foundation has voiced its support for the ANC in suspending former president Jacob Zuma, citing his actions as detrimental to the party’s reputation. Zuma recently declared he will not campaign or vote for the ANC in the forthcoming elections, instead pledging allegiance to the newly-formed party, Umkhonto we Sizwe. Thinc Foundation CEO, Lucky Mathebula, emphasised to Newzroom Afrika that Zuma’s choices directly influenced the ANC’s decision:

# The South African government, in partnership with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement Secretariat, is hosting the 13th Council of Ministers meeting in Durban today. The two-day event aims to highlight that companies can engage in trade under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement to expand their markets within a legally binding framework promoting meaningful trade within Africa.

# Cricket: Windies pace bowler Shamar Joseph can expect a hero’s welcome when he returns home after his heroics in Australia. He took seven wickets in the hosts’ second innings during the second Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on Sunday to help his team to their first Test victory in Australia in 27 years. Joseph did this despite sustaining a toe injury the previous day, securing the Windies an eight-run victory to level the series. He will miss out on the International League T20 in the United Arab Emirates.

# And finally: CapeNature says the birth of a unique foal at the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is a beacon of hope for Cape mountain zebra conservation. For the last 300 years, the population of the Cape mountain zebra has been under harsh threat due to unchecked hunting and habitat demolition. Conservation initiatives taken by CapeNature in conjunction with other private bodies led to a significant upswing in the zebra population. CapeNature says the birth of this unique foal serves as proof of the enduring resilience of nature when aided by human efforts.

Stay tuned for more news………….