News 15:00

BULLETIN 18 January 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Public Protector launches an investigation into Bheki Cele’s World Cup jaunt 
# Gauteng’s MEC requests three days to resolve the learner placement issues
# And hockey: South Africa is relying on experienced players at the World Cup

# The DA welcomes the Public Protector’s investigation into Police minister Bheki Cele and his assistant’s trip to Paris for the Rugby World Cup that was reportedly funded by an unidentified private company. The investigation, initiated in response to the party’s complaint, aims to scrutinise the expenses and determine if Cele violated the Executive Members’ Ethics Act. The DA’s Okkie Terblanche plans to lodge an official ethics complaint with Parliament, saying Cele’s actions are in breach of his obligations and duties as a Member of Parliament:

# Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has assured the public that his department aims to resolve learner placement challenges within three days. Over 276-thousand online applicants have been successfully placed in various schools across the province. Despite this progress, some parents have expressed dissatisfaction with their children’s school allocations, and there are still learners awaiting placements. Chiloane says the department commits to ongoing collaboration with schools and parents, while also implementing temporary mobile classrooms in schools to address the growing demand.

# The African Union’s Peace and Security Council has issued a call for restraint amid the tension between Somalia and Ethiopia over a Red Sea access deal with Somaliland. The council also urged external actors to adhere to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states. The council called on Somalia and Ethiopia to de-escalate mounting tensions, and engage in meaningful dialogue for a peaceful resolution. The AU reaffirmed its strong commitment and support for preserving the unity, and sovereignty of all member states.

# Hockey: South Africa’s women’s team is banking on the experience of its players to propel them to the final of the Women’s Hockey5’s World Cup, taking place in Muscat, Oman, from Wednesday to next Saturday. They secured their spot by defeating Egypt 7-0 in a crucial third-place play-off. South Africa competes in Group B against Australia, Ukraine, and Zambia. Coach Tsoanelo Pholo expressed confidence in the team, describing them to Newzroom Afrika as the best of the best for the tournament:

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-92-cents and the euro at 20-rand-61-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-1-cent and Bitcoin trades at 42-thousand-451-dollars-93-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-12-dollars-51-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-46-cents a barrel.

 # And finally: The Stellenbosch University says two out of three teenagers diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis experience lung abnormalities even after successfully completing treatment. This alarming finding was revealed in a new study by researchers. Each year an estimated 850-thousand teenagers develop tuberculosis, of which about 90-percent are living in low- and middle-income countries. Marieke van der Zalm of the university says adolescence is an important period for lung growth, and respiratory diseases such as TB can potentially interfere with normal lung development.

Stay tuned for more news………….