THE MORNING BRIEF

In a disturbing trend, nearly 40 infants have been abandoned in the Eastern Cape between March 2024 and January 2025. While all babies have been found alive, the situation remains a critical concern for authorities.

The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation (CATS) team has arrested a 35-year-old South African man on charges related to violating the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act (POCDATARA).

A decision by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to disband the task team investigating political killings in KwaZulu-Natal has sparked concern among experts, who fear it could damage public trust in law enforcement.

The release of South Africa’s 2024 matric results on January 13 will draw significant attention, particularly with regard to the performance in maths and physical science—two key subjects for university admission.

In South Africa, coal is more than just a source of energy; it is integral to jobs, industrial growth, and the nation’s economic stability. As global calls for decarbonisation grow louder, coal’s essential role is often overlooked.

South Africans are being urged to exercise caution when using social media and private messaging platforms like WhatsApp, as careless online behaviour can have severe consequences, ranging from job loss to criminal charges. Experts warn that actions such as leaking confidential information, sharing explicit content, or posting misleading updates can lead to disciplinary actions by employers, or even violations of the Cybercrimes Act and the recently enacted Hate Crimes Act.

The ANC in Mpumalanga has confirmed that it will not be attending the January 8th Celebrations in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, marking the party's 111th anniversary. Instead, the province will focus on its own provincial celebrations, scheduled for January 25th at the Kameelriver Ga Morwe Stadium.

South Africa's rail network is poised for a major transformation with the introduction of third-party access, which could improve operations but also requires urgent investment.

AFRICA UPDATE WITH SIPHO MANTULA

New China Virus: In recent weeks, social media has been flooded with alarming images of overwhelmed hospitals in China, sparking fears of another pandemic. These concerns stemmed from a surge in cases of the flu-like Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), particularly among children.

The battle for control of Ingonyama Trust in KwaZulu-Natal is heating up after King Misuzulu KaZwelithini reasserted his authority and ordered the entity’s “suspended” board members not to enter the trust’s offices in Pietermaritzburg.

THE ANC has challenged its members to take personal financial responsibility for attending the upcoming January 8 celebrations in Khayelitsha at the weekend in a move seen as signalling the party's financial woes.

AFRICA UPDATE WITH SIPHO MANTULA

It has been more than seven years since Markus Jooste resigned as CEO of Steinhoff on 5 December 2017 and Steinhoff’s supervisory board requested PWC’s advisory services unit to conduct a forensic investigation into accounting fraud at the former international retail giant.

WITH a week to go before the 2024 matric results are released, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Information Regulator are set to battle it out to determine whether the results will be released in newspapers, with the Information Regulator standing its ground that doing so, will go against the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia).

The African National Congress (ANC) was founded on January 8, 1912. This week, they celebrate 113 years of our movement's existence with a range of activities culminating in the main January 8 Statement rally, which will take place at Mandela Park Stadium in Khayelitsha, Western Cape, on Saturday, January 11. ANC Dullah Omar Regional chairperson, Ndithini Tyhido, said the party was ready for the event.

The recommendations of a new Bureau for Economic Research (BER) report argues that failure to improve municipal outcomes will mute the effect of the government’s broader structural reforms to boost economic growth. It urges local government to hire more engineers and finance professionals, and for municipal trading services in electricity and water and sanitation to be set up as viable, standalone entities to address underinvestment and poor management of the services.

THE Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has recorded 7 448 arrests on South African roads for the current festive season between December 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025.

If a pregnant minor requests termination of pregnancy she should be advised to discuss it with her parents/guardians but their consent is not required. While a person younger than 18 years is considered a child in South Africa, the act does allow consensual sex for people who are between 16 and 18 years.

President-elect Donald Trump said Sunday that he is looking into pardoning the Jan, 6 rioters on the first day of his administration during an interview on "Meet the Press." The Justice Department is considering charging up to 200 more people for their alleged involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, a report says.