News 18:00

BULLETIN 15 January 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# An analyst warns Zuma’s expulsion may expose ANC secrets
# ActionSA nominates Nasiphi Moya as candidate for Tshwane deputy mayor
# And, motorsport: Carlos Sainz leads Dakar with five stages to go

# Political analyst Fikile Vilakazi warns that former president Jacob Zuma, if expelled from the ANC, could expose sensitive information, posing a dilemma for the party. Vilakazi suggests Zuma, involved in apartheid-era intelligence gathering, might hold the ANC “to ransom,” and his revelations could lead to the organisation’s collapse. He says despite reasons to suspend Zuma, the ANC faces challenges. A leaked letter indicating Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s exit from Parliament adds to the complexities the party faces.

# ActionSA has named Nasiphi Moya as its candidate for the position of Tshwane deputy mayor. National chairperson Michael Beaumont sees Moya as stepping into a significant leadership role within the city’s governance structure. He says this move aligns with ActionSA’s strategic positioning, aiming to make a robust impact on Tshwane’s political landscape. Beaumont also emphasised the nomination underscores the party’s commitment to active participation in local governance and influencing the city’s political trajectory:

# The Council for Medical Schemes is set to investigate the extravagant costs incurred by 33 medical schemes for hosting annual general meetings. A research report revealed the costs, totaling 29.2- million-rand, as concerning, prompting an in-depth inquiry into contributing factors. Five schemes, including Sizwe Hosmed and Discovery Health, exhibited notably higher spending. The investigation, empowered by the Medical Schemes Act, aims to ascertain causes and to assess if regulatory measures are necessary. The council emphasised the need for spending should translate into value for members.

# The 2024 World Economic Forum has started in Davos, Switzerland, focusing on leaders’ efforts to transition towards a carbon-neutral and nature-positive world by 2050. The week-long forum will address the challenges of providing affordable, secure, and inclusive access to energy, food, and water. Discussions will highlight the environmental impact of private jet travel, identified as the most carbon-intensive mode of transportation. A report by the European Federation for Transport and Environment indicates that private jets are ten times more carbon-intensive than commercial planes and 50 times more than trains.

# Motorsport: It is the second and last week of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, and it’s now effectively a two-horse race between Carlos Sainz of Spain and Frenchman Sebastien Loeb. Forteen-time winner Stephane Peterhansel of France and five-time champion Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar are already out of the running. Audi driver Sainz has a lead of 19 minutes over Loeb, who won yesterday’s seventh stage. The Audi team is using new tires this year to try and limit punctures and Sainz says so far it is working well:

# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-66-cents and the euro at 20-rand-44-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-75-cents and Bitcoin trades at 42-thousand-844-dollars-27-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-53-dollars-54-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-34-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….