News 18:00

BULLETIN 22 January 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA demands the immediate suspension of minister Dean Macpherson over corruption allegations
# Tennis: Iga Swiatek says it’s the umpire’s job to rule on controversial calls
# And Prince Harry settles a lawsuit against the publisher of Ruper Murdoch’s UK tabloid

# ActionSA has urged president Cyril Ramaphosa to immediately suspend Public Works and Infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson amid allegations of corruption and bribery. Macpherson is accused of interfering in procurement processes and allegedly paid a journalist to orchestrate a smear campaign against the Independent Development Trust’s CEO, Tebogo Malaka. ActionSA’s Malebo Kobe insists Ramaphosa must take decisive action to ensure accountability, uphold ethical standards in government and restore public trust:

# The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission is embarking on a mass deregistering process for non-compliant companies. The companies have reportedly failed to meet obligations such as submitting annual returns and ownership declarations. The process aims to address inactive businesses and reduce risks posed by dormant companies. Commissioner Rory Voller explained to SABC News that companies must lodge annual returns to confirm operational status, directors, and locations.

# Media Monitoring Africa director William Bird has supported Communications and Digital Technologies minister Solly Malatsi’s decision to appoint an independent firm to explore alternatives for a sustainable SABC funding model. Bird emphasises the broadcaster’s role in delivering public-interest journalism. He says a public-commercial funding model and a proposed public interest content levy may be considered:

# Tennis: Polish player Iga Swiatek believes it’s the umpire’s job to rule on controversial decisions. The world number two reacted after winning a crucial point during her Australian Open quarterfinal against American Emma Navarro. A replay showed Navarro’s drop-shot bounced twice on Swiatek’s side of the net before she returned it. Umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore ruled Navarro’s request for a video review out of time. Swiatek went on to win 6-1, 6-2 and will face another American, Madison Keys, in the semifinal tomorrow.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-48-cents and the euro at 19-rand-26-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-80-cents and Bitcoin trades at 104-thousand-303-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-755-dollars-29-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-47-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Prince Harry has settled a hotly disputed lawsuit against the publisher of Rupert Murdoch’s UK tabloid, who apologised for hacking the British royal’s phone and agreed to pay him substantial damages. Harry’s lawyer, David Sherborne, told the High Court in London that Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers offers a full and unequivocal apology to the prince for the phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators instructed by them.

Stay tuned for more news………….