Transcript

Hello everyone, this is Erika with ‘Just a Moment News’, bringing you the top stories on this 29th day of January, 2024. Let’s dive right in.

First up, we have some unfortunate news for South Africa’s drivers. The country’s transition to new driving licence cards has hit a roadblock with delays pushing the launch beyond the initially announced end of March 2024 deadline. Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga attributes these delays to complications in procuring a new printer necessary for producing the cards. The new cards, which will feature an updated design and incorporate modern technologies to align with international standards and improve security against forgery, now seem unlikely to roll out before September 2024. This comes as a blow to former transport minister Fikile Mbalula’s plans to phase out existing driving licence cards by March 2024, a plan that was already facing criticism for delays and inefficiencies.

Moving on to Cape Town, where residents are grappling with the City’s policy of deducting arrears from prepaid electricity purchases. This decade-old policy, aimed at recovering outstanding payments, has sparked outrage among residents, particularly affecting poorer households. Critics argue that it traps households in debt by requiring them to pay both current bills and arrears simultaneously. However, the City defends the policy as necessary for maintaining service sustainability and avoiding service delivery collapse.

In the world of sports, Super Bowl LVIII is gearing up for a thrilling encounter in Las Vegas. The reigning champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, are set to face off against the San Francisco 49ers in a rematch of Super Bowl LIV. Both teams are driven to cement their legacies in this high-stakes matchup, with the Chiefs aiming for their third title in five years and the 49ers seeking their sixth Super Bowl win.

In entertainment news, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s media company, Westbrook, is going through a major restructuring. Amidst this, the company is making steep cuts, a significant setback for a company that once declined offers to sell itself for around $600 million. The company plans on scaling back its digital media ambitions to focus specifically on television, film, and some entertainment marketing projects. This comes after a series of challenges, including the fallout from Will Smith’s controversial incident at the Oscars in March 2022.

In the tech world, The Browser Company has developed Arc Search, a groundbreaking app that redefines web browsing and searching. Unlike traditional search engines, Arc Search compiles a detailed, singular webpage with comprehensive information in response to user queries. This innovative approach to AI-driven search and information synthesis positions it as a pioneering tool in AI search technology.

In other news, Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, is reportedly writing a memoir in prison. This memoir aims to counter “misinformation” about her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire pedophile who died in 2019. Maxwell believes her story will lead to dropped charges and reveal the truth.

Finally, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Ga-Rankuwa, South Africa, is facing a severe medical crisis due to non-functional CT scanners. As revealed by a whistle-blower doctor, the hospital is operating with only one backup CT scanner, leading to delayed treatments and inadequate care for patients. The hospital’s management’s failure to renew maintenance contracts for the CT scanners has worsened the situation, causing increased patient suffering and deaths.

That’s all the news for today, January 29, 2024. This has been Erika with ‘Just a Moment News’. Stay informed and have a great day!

Keywords - moment, daily, news