News 15:00

BULLETIN 30 January 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# There are growing calls for the reform of the Monetary Policy Committee 
# The GOOD Party says families who lost homes in the Cape Winelands fire are unable to rebuild without support
# And figure skating: Kamila Valieva of Russia is handed a four-year ban for doping

# There are growing calls to reform the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee to make it more reflective of South Africa’s population. Economic advisor Roelof Botha argues the country’s economy and households are being further harmed by the aggressive interest rate stance. Speaking to eNCA, he called for the broadening of the committee to become much more inclusive. Botha urged more financial institutions and other industry stakeholders to be a part of the reform:

# The GOOD Party in the Western Cape says one week after the devastating fire at Wolseley in the Cape Winelands claimed their homes, many residents have still not been able to start rebuilding due to a lack of support. The fire, which has spread to Bain’s Kloof/Slanghoek and Elandsberg, has damaged over 100 structures. The GOOD Party’s Janke Tolmay says they are calling on those at municipal and provincial levels to urgently request emergency funding from the National Department of Human Settlements:

# The European Commission’s Energy4Europe says member states will need to ramp up financing to meet the European Union renewable energy production targets. Under the REPowerEU Plan, the headline 2030 target for renewables at the EU level has increased to 45-percent, in a bid to cut Europe’s energy dependency on Russian gas before 2030. Up to 80-percent of the EU’s energy needs are dependent on imports. Energy4Europe says current geopolitical rifts act as an additional barrier to investment, raising concerns about supply chains to further increase renewable energy capacities in the EU.

# Figure skating: Russian athlete Kamila Valieva has been handed a four-year doping ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, resulting in the Russian Olympic Committee being stripped of its gold medal in the team event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. The decision comes nearly two years after the competition took place. Valieva was found guilty of violating anti-doping rules. Her ineligibility period began on December 25, 2021, and will conclude in time for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano and Cortina in Italy.

# And finally: Higher Education, Science and Innovation minister Blade Nzimande says the death of professor Samuel Mokgokong constitutes an incalculable loss to South African post school education and training sector. Mokgokong is one of the country’s most decorated academics and scholars. The department’s spokesperson, Veli Mbele, says he had a long and distinguished academic career in the medical field, which has seen him form part of some of the most pioneering surgical teams:

Stay tuned for more news………….