News 17:00

BULLETIN 22 January 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# AfriForum asks for help from the private sector to contain the foot-and-mouth crisis
# Soil of Africa condemns the learner transport cut in Tshwane
# And rugby, the Cape Town Stadium could be sold out for Saturday’s URC derby between the Stormers and the Sharks

# AfriForum is calling on government to urgently partner with the private sector to curb the rapid spread of foot-and-mouth disease. The organisation’s Environmental Affairs spokesperson, Lambert de Klerk, warns the outbreak has become a national economic threat, affecting farmers, jobs and food security. He says the state’s centralised response is too slow and urges controlled private-sector involvement in vaccination, logistics and veterinary services under strict government oversight:

# The Soil of Africa Movement condemns the City of Tshwane for withdrawing learner transport at the Pienaarsport relocation settlement in Mamelodi. The organisation’s Tebogo Morske says more than 84 children are now unable to attend school, while others must walk dangerous distances daily. He calls the move unconstitutional and demands the immediate reinstatement of transport and accountability from city officials:

# Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi has maintained that his appointment was lawful. Mkhwanazi told Parliament’s ad hoc committee that he acted as chief of police after the incumbent  police chief Jabulani Mapiyeye was suspended in 2024, citing his position as the qualified deputy chief at the time. He also addressed rumours surrounding his role, noting that subsequent restructuring placed EMPD under a broader Community Safety department:

#  US president Donald Trump launched his Board of Peace in Davos, Switzerland, where the annual World Economic Forum is bringing together global political and business leaders. Trump invited dozens of other world leaders to join the board which initially was focused on cementing Gaza’s ceasefire. Apart from the US, no other permanent member of the United Nations Security Council has yet committed to join. Russia is still studying the proposal, France has declined, Britain said it was not joining at present, and China has not yet responded.

# Rugby: A fullhouse is expected at the Cape Town Stadium for Saturday’s first of back-to-back United Rugby Championship derbies between the Stormers and the Sharks. Over 40-thousand tickets had already been sold earlier this week. The undefeated Stormers are currently top of the log with 36 points from eight victories in eight matches, while the visitors are in fourteenth position with only two victories. The two teams will again clash at Kings Park in Durban next Saturday.

And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-21-cents and the euro at 18-rand-98-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-76-cents and Bitcoin trades at 89-thousand-935-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-821-dollars-27-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-41-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….