News 18:00
BULLETIN 5 January 6 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The DA urges Ramaphosa to fire minister Nzimande amid NSFAS scandal
# Load-shedding will transition to stage 1
# And, Sassa paid more than 141-million-rand in grants to the dead since 2021
# The DA has urged president Cyril Ramaphosa to dismiss Higher Education, Science and Innovation minister, Blade Nzimande in light of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme scandal. This follows after the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse released voice recordings that shed light on a patronage system diverting funds and implicating NSFAS board chairperson Ernest Khoza. The party demands the immediate suspension of Khoza amid accusations of kickbacks. The DA’s Chantel King vows to scrutinise tender agreements and demands swift action and accountability:
# Eskom says stage three load-shedding will continue until 5 AM tomorrow. This will be followed by stage one until 4 PM. Then, stage two will be in effect from 4 PM until 5 AM on Sunday. Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena says a temporary suspension is planned from 5 AM to 4 PM on Sunday. She adds a week-ahead outlook will be provided on Sunday, with prompt communication of any significant changes:
# Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu has disclosed to Parliament that Sassa erroneously paid over 141-million-rand to deceased beneficiaries of social grants since 2021. She informed the National Assembly the agency has implement measures to freeze the accounts of deceased beneficiaries to prevent further withdrawals. Zulu says letters have also been sent to the next of kin, requesting the return of the paid funds.
# Soccer: The winner of the Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast will receive a wopping 131-million rand. This is an increase of 40-percent from the previous tournament. The continent’s governing body, CAF, announced the runners-up will receive 75-million-rand. The semifinalists will earn 47-million-rand each and the quarterfinalists 24.4-million-rand. The body’s president, Patrice Motsepe, believes a portion of the prize money will contribute to developing the game. The tournament runs from next Saturday until the 11th of February.
# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-82-cents and the euro at 20-rand-57-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 44-thousand-091-dollars-4-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-43-dollars-99-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-53-cents a barrel.
# And, Oscar Pistorius’ release from jail has made headlines all over the world. The former Paralympic champion fell from grace when he killed his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, early in 2013 – just a few months after being hailed as an inspiration for becoming the first double amputee to compete in an Olympic Games the previous year in London. Pistorius will reside in the home of his uncle, Arnold, in Pretoria. Steenkamp’s mother, June, said after his release she was the one serving a life sentence after the killing of her child.
Stay tuned for more news………….