News 09:00

BULLETIN 2 December 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The SACP will contest the 2026 elections independently
# Johannesburg Metro Police is protecting Rea Vaya
# And Georgia rejects a call for new elections

# The South African Communist Party says it will contest the 2026 local government elections independently from the ANC. All the modalities of implementation will be thrashed out at its fifth national congress next week. The matter will also be discussed in their bilateral talks with the ANC in January. SACP general secretary, Solly Mapaila, told eNCA they want to win elections and drive a radical transformation agenda:

Mapaila says he believes the government of national unity won’t last for five years. The ANC’s alliance partner has been opposed to the coalition government, particularly to the inclusion of the DA. Speaking to eNCA, Mapaila said the DA continues to reflect an anti-working-class politics and economic policy posture, as seen in its opposition to the national minimum wage, the BELA Act, and the National Health Insurance:

# The City of Johannesburg says the Metropolitan Police Department will bolster its presence as the Rea Vaya 45 feeder buses are set to resume operations in Soweto today. The buses were set to begin operating last Friday, however, taxi operators defied a court order, and disrupted the bus services by blocking roads with their patrol cars. The issue arose when taxi associations claimed the feeder buses were deployed with incorrect registration plates, a violation that prompted outrage from the transport sector.

# Georgia’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, has rejected a call for new elections amid protest over the government’s decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union. The country has seen months of rising tension between the ruling Georgian Dream Party and opponents, who accuse it of pursuing increasingly authoritarian, anti-Western, and pro-Russian policies. Georgia’s pro-western president, Salome Zourabichvili, called for pressure to be brought on the Constitutional Court to annul October’s elections, won by the Georgian Dream Party. This as opposition parties claimed the polls were rigged.

# Soccer: Liverpool stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League table by beating reigning champions Manchester City two-nil at Anfield. Goals from Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah secured the win for the Reds, moving them eleven points clear of City in fifth. City have now lost their last four Premier League games for the first time since August 2008. City manager, Pep Guardiola, who signed a new two-year contract extension last month, says he remains confident in his players:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-15-cents and the euro at 19-rand-10-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-3-cents and Bitcoin trades at 96-thousand-291-dollars-11-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-629-dollars-58-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-22-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….