News 18:00

BULLETIN 10 January 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Gauteng launches an app for private and instant access to matric results
# FEDSAS is concerned as the rising school fees strain families amidst economic pressures
# And Tennis: Emma Raducanu refuses to treat insect bites at the Australian Open over doping test fears

# The class of 2024 will be able to access their results privately and conveniently through the new Gauteng matric results app. The platform, launched by the provincial government, allows learners to view their results on their devices starting Monday. Department of e-Government spokesperson Neo Goba says the app is part of efforts to transform education through technology, ensuring transparency and accessibility and reducing stress by protecting learners’ privacy: 

# The Federation of Governing Bodies of South African says fee-paying schools are experiencing significant financial strain as school fees rise, increasing pressure on families. Fedsas reports that independent schools are expected to provide exemptions of between 7.4-billion-rand and 10.8-billion-rand to struggling parents. Speaking to eNCA, Fedsas’ Riaan van der Bergh says with fee increases surpassing inflation, he urged schools to communicate fee and stationery adjustments transparently:

# The case against four suspects linked to a hijacked vehicle found at former president Nelson Mandela’s Houghton home in Johannesburg has been postponed to 17 January. A fifth person arrested was Nelson Mandela’s grandson, but he did not appear in court today. The court ordered the media not to publish the suspects’ names, gender or race. The hijacked vehicle was discovered along with an unlicensed firearm. They have been charged with kidnapping, robbery, and assault.

# An estimated 3.2-million children under the age of five are expected to face acute malnutrition this year in war-torn Sudan. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, around 772-thousand of these children are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition. Sudan has endured 20 months of war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, killing tens of thousands and, according to the United Nations, uprooting 12-million people in the world’s largest displacement crisis.

# Tennis: Emma Raducanu has revealed she refused to use an antiseptic spray to treat insect bites for fear of failing a drug test before the Australian Open. The 22-year-old British tennis star said her hand and ankle swelled up but she refused the treatment in case contamination led to a positive doping test. Raducanu said at a pre-tournament news conference, players are all sensitive about what they use and the effect it might have on drug tests. Asked about the tournament she said she could be a dangerous opponent for anyone.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-10-cents and the euro at 19-rand-59-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-36-cents and Bitcoin trades at 94-thousand-304-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-684-dollars-11-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-42-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….