News 14:00

BULLETIN 28 January 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Four more SANDF soldiers die as M23 rebels overrun Goma
# Climate activists disrupt a London stage show
# And rugby: A Bulls’ Bok flanker faces a long, uncertain road ahead after a serious knee injury

# The South African National Defence Force says four more South African soldiers have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo, bringing the total to 13 during intense fighting with M23 rebels. The soldiers are trapped in Goma and Sake and unable to access medical aid or supplies. Defence Force spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini says a video showing troops raising a white flag was confirmed as part of a failed truce, not a surrender.

Meanwhile, Save South Africa is calling on government and the minister of Defence, Angie Motshekga, to bring the soldiers home before they are all killed. Spokesperson Tebogo Mashilompane says the government must track and report accurately the dynamics in the DRC, particularly at the South African camp:

# Cope is urging all workers who have suffered tuberculosis or any other lung disease in mines, to check their eligibility to claim compensation from the Medical Bureau of Occupational Diseases. This also applies to ex-mineworkers who contracted TB or silicosis from working in gold mines between 12 March 1965 and 10 December 2019. Cosatu’s Zanele Sabela says should the mineworkers be deceased, their dependants will be eligible to claim compensation:

# Two climate activists disrupted a stage performance of William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”, starring Hollywood actress Sigourney Weaver, in London. The protesters climbed onto the stage at the Theatre Royal, launching a confetti cannon and holding a sign which read “Over 1.5 Degrees is a Global Shipwreck”. This refers to 2024 being the first full year over the 1.5 degree global temperature rise limit, beyond which scientists warn stability of life is under threat. The audience greeted the pair from the Just Stop Oil group with boos and whistles.

# Rugby: Springbok flanker Elrigh Louw admits a long and uncertain road lies ahead for him after suffering a serious knee injury while playing for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship against the Lions this weekend. The Pretoria team’s co-captain was taken straight to hospital after the match at Ellis Park and underwent an operation shortly afterwards. Louw promised to be back. The Bulls’ other captain, Ruan Nortjé, as well as flyhalf Johan Goosen also have knee problems.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-67-cents and the euro at 19-rand-48-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-24-cents and Bitcoin trades at 103-thousand-153-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-743-dollars-19-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-48-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….