News 07:00

BULLETIN 2 December 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa warns that the BELA Act grace period should not be abused
# The Transport Department identifies 20 high-accident hotspots
# And cricket: Gerald Coetzee will miss the second Sri Lanka Test and the tour against Pakistan

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the authority he has given parties interested in the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, to give inputs on the two contentious clauses should never be abused or downplayed. Clauses 4 and 5 of the Act deal with language and admission policies in public schools. Speaking to the media at an ANC event in Thabazimbi, Limpopo, Ramaphosa reiterated that the deadline he set for solutions to the clauses should not be diverted:

# Transport minister Barbara Creecy says law enforcement authorities will be policing 20 of the country’s routes that have been identified as high-risk zones for accidents during the festive season. The hotspots include Mpumalanga’s R573 at KwaMhlanga and Gauteng’s R21 at Kempton Park. So far this year, ten-thousand-154 people have died on the country’s roads. Speaking at the launch of the Festive Season Road Safety Campaign in Pretoria yesterday, Creecy said law enforcement will ensure road safety and compliance with the law:

# Defence minister Angie Motshekga has dismissed allegations of widespread misconduct within the SANDF, emphasising isolated cases don’t define the force. Responding to reports of ill-discipline in DRC peacekeeping missions, she cited strict disciplinary measures, including military trials and dismissals. Motshekga affirmed zero tolerance for sexual misconduct, highlighting training on national representation before deployments. While eight soldiers faced penalties for curfew breaches in 2023, she reiterated that misconduct isn’t systemic in SANDF operations.

# Gauteng Health Department is facing a 4.8-billion-rand budget shortfall, threatening payments to suppliers and staff salaries. DA’s Jack Bloom says spending 54-percent of its 64.8-billion-rand budget in six months has led to recruitment and equipment freezes. Bloom also warned of patients’ risk of severe impacts as the department may run out of funds by March 2025. He calls for urgent intervention, citing maladministration under investigation.

# The United Nation’s agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, has suspended aid deliveries through Kerem Shalom, the main crossing point for humanitarian aid into Gaza. On Saturday armed gangs attacked a humanitarian convoy. Last month, a convoy of 109 lorries carrying food was attacked by masked men who held the drivers at gunpoint before stealing 97 of the lorries. Unrwa head, Philippe Lazzarini, says the delivery of humanitarian aid must never be dangerous or turn into an ordeal. He has called on Israel to ensure aid flows into Gaza safely.

# Cricket: Proteas fast bowler Gerald Coetzee has been ruled out of the second Test against Sri Lanka, and the upcoming all-format tour against Pakistan due to a groin injury. The 24-year-old experienced discomfort during the first Test in Durban on Saturday. The results of the scan revealed a right groin muscle strain. He will be sidelined for four to six weeks. Lions youngster Kwena Maphaka has been called up as a replacement for Coetzee for the second Test, which starts on Thursday at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-13-cents and the euro at 19-rand-9-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-1-cents and Bitcoin trades at 98-thousand-96-dollar-44-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-637-dollars-1-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-3-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….