News 16:00

BULLETIN 8 January 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# DA leader to open corruption case against minister Nzimande
# Tobacco association pressured to reveal rogue cigarette makers within its ranks
# and Macron wants French to be active in this Olympics year

# DA leader John Steenhuisen has accused president Cyril Ramaphosa of being a coward for failing to address the country’s challenges. Steenhuisen’s comments follow the release of alleged recordings implicating Higher Education minister Blade Nzimande and National Student Financial Aid Scheme board chairperson Ernest Khosa of bribery. Nzimande has since denies the claims. Steenhuisen considers the allegations serious and calls on Ramaphosa to take decisive action against cadres accused of corruption :

# Tax Justice South Africa urges the Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association to disclose the names of expelled members involved in rule violations and to report any fraudulent acts to authorities. This demand comes after FITA’s failed attempt to prevent the installation of CCTV cameras at tobacco factories. The organisation’s founder Yusuf Abramjee accuses the association of manipulating the law and calls for a comprehensive investigation by the South African Revenue Service. Abramjee believes non-compliant cigarette manufacturers cost South Africa 27-billion-rand annually in lost tax revenue.

# AfriForum demands the reinstatement of Afrikaans admission examinations for attorneys from the Legal Practice Council. This request comes in response to the council’s recent decision to conduct entrance exams exclusively in English, causing concern among Afrikaans-speaking legal professionals. AfriForum’s Alana Bailey criticised the council’s rationale, arguing the move deprives individuals of their language rights and represents an attack on the Afrikaans language. According to Bailey, AfriForum is prepared to take further action if the council does not respond positively:

# President Emmanuel Macron has urged French people to start exercising daily as Paris prepares to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Posting a video clip of himself on X, formerly Twitter, in a T-shirt, boxing gloves slung over his shoulder and with a punching bag in the background, the president urged his compatriots to work out at least 30 minutes a day. With 200 days remaining before the Games kick off on 26 July, Macron said the government was promoting sports this year. This includes boosting physical education instruction in schools.

# And, a recent study in the journal, Nature Ecology and Evolution, has revealed that declining predator populations have cascading effects on their prey, disrupting ecosystem functioning. The study’s author, Phil Shaw, highlights that the loss of large avian predators, such as vultures, has significant consequences for prey populations and overall biodiversity. He emphasises the long-lasting impact on the environment and human health, as scavengers play a crucial role in preventing the spread of diseases. Shaw advocates for strengthening protected area networks to address biodiversity challenges.

Stay tuned for more news………….