News 18:00

BULLETIN 9 January 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Ronald Lamola heads South Africa’s delegation to The Hague
# Parliament names Pravin Gordhan as the minister with the most unanswered questions
# And Rugby: The new coach wants overseas-based players to be available for the All Blacks

# Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, is leading South Africa’s delegation to The Hague in the Netherlands where the country’s genocide case against Israel will be heard in the International Court of Justice. The delegation consists of prominent diplomats and officials who will join forces with global political figures like former British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn. Lamola says he is determined to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Spokesperson Chrispin Phiri promises media updates throughout the week:

# Public Enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan has been implicated as the top minister who failed to respond to written questions from Members of Parliament. Parliament published a list of ministers with unanswered questions dating back to February last year. Gordhan faces scrutiny with 17 unanswered questions in his portfolio, which includes oversight of state-owned enterprises like Eskom. Others on the list include Small Business Development minister Stella Ndabeni, minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni and minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Mondli Gungubele.

# Eskom’s board has officially announced the appointment of the board of directors for the National Transmission Company of South Africa. This forms a crucial element of Eskom’s legal separation into three entities – Generation, Distribution, and Transmission. The newly appointed chairperson, Priscillah Mabelane, will lead a team of 12 executives, with Brian Armstrong taking on the role of lead independent director. Eskom board chairperson Mteto Nyati emphasises the move is a key milestone in unlocking the planned transformation of the electricity industry.

# Australia has enforced a ban on the Nazi salute and symbols associated with designated terror groups in an effort to curb rising far-right activities. The law criminalises public displays of Nazi motifs, including the swastika, and the sale of symbols linked to groups like Hamas and Isis. The move comes in response to a surge in hate incidents. People found guilty can now face up to 12 months in prison. The government asserts there is no place in Australia for acts and symbols that glorify the horrors of the Holocaust and terrorist acts.

# Rugby: New All Blacks coach, Scott Robertson wants overseas players to be available for the national team. Former Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber said after the World Cup having players abroad brings several benefits, including giving younger players the chance to make a name for themselves. Robertson requested New Zealand Rugby to change its rules after 12 of the players in the World Cup squad left for overseas clubs after the tournament:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-59-cents and the euro at 20-rand-36-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-66-cents and Bitcoin trades at 46-thousand-677-dollars-48-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-36-dollars-49-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-13-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….