News 16:00

BULLETIN 17 January 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# SADTU says the teacher shortage remains a challenge 
# The DA calls for a full report following the Transnet freight rail collision in KwaZulu-Natal
# And tennis: Most top seeds progress at the Australian Open

# The South African Democratic Teachers Union has expressed growing concerns about the insufficient number of teachers in schools. In an interview with eNCA, general secretary Mugwena Maluleke highlighted the ongoing imbalance in the learner-to-teacher ratio, resulting in overcrowded classrooms. He emphasises the need for national and provincial treasuries to prioritise education as a crucial factor for a better future. Maluleke stresses that teachers require support and adequate resources to ensure a smooth educational experience for learners:

# The DA is urging Transnet Freight Rail to handle the recent collision between two coal-carrying trains near Richard’s Bay in KwaZulu-Natal with transparency. The party calls for the public release of the full accident report, regular updates on the clean-up progress and clear timelines for the restoration of the affected export coal line to full operation. Criticising the rail’s delayed digitisation efforts, the DA’s Mimmy Gondwe expressed concerns about the manual tracking system’s potential for logistics crises.

# The Freedom Front Plus in Tshwane says together with the metro’s Department of Health, it has already implemented precautionary plans to manage a possible cholera outbreak. Two cases of cholera have been recorded in Limpopo, but none in Tshwane so far. The FF Plus’s Rina Marx says residents are being urged to remain on the lookout for symptoms of cholera:

# Saudi Arabia reinforced its call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and an end to the spiralling volatility in the Red Sea during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Speaking at a session on ‘Securing an Insecure World’, Saudi Arabia’s minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, said the immediate crisis, namely the suffering happening in Gaza, should receive the highest priority. He urges the international community to help create permanent peace in the region through the establishment of a Palestinian state.

# Tennis: Several top ten players were in action in the second round of the Australian Open today, with easy victories for local player Alex de Minaur, Jannik Sinner from Italy and Russia’s Andrey Rublev. Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece needed four sets to progress. In the women’s game, world number two Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus eased into the third round along with fourth seeded American Coco Gauff, who defeated compatriot Caroline Dolehide. The 19-year-old was happy to progress to the next round in Melbourne:

Stay tuned for more news………….