News 13:00

BULLETIN 9 December 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Western Cape schools are already full for 2025
# An education activist is concerned by the recent violent acts against educators
# And cricket: The Proteas advance to the top of the World Test Championship after a 2-0 series victory over Sri Lanka

# Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier says they will work to place every learner for whom an application is received, but warns that schools are full. Until last Wednesday, the department allocated places to over 117-thousand Grade 1 and 8 learners. The department is scheduled to complete six new schools and 180 additional classrooms at existing schools in time for the start of the school year next month. Maynier has appealed for patience from parents submitting new applications, saying they may not be placed before the end of the first term.

Meanwhile, education activist Hendrick Makaneta has expressed outrage and sadness over two recent violent incidents involving educators. In KwaZulu-Natal, a Grade three teacher from Mzingazi Primary School in Richards Bay, Bonisiwe Maphumulo, was killed in a cash-in-transit robbery on her way to work. In Gauteng, Northview High School’s acting principal was shot six times in his office and is currently in ICU. Makaneta says these incidents have shaken the education sector:

# Higher Education and Training deputy minister Buti Manamela is urging students who want to apply for funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, to do so before the 15 December deadline. Already more than 60-percent of applications of new students who want to study in the new year, have been granted. Manamela says the closing date for the applications will not be extended:

# Former Finance minister Trevor Manuel has been appointed to a United Nations expert group, tasked with finding policy solutions to the debt crisis in the world. The group announced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, will promote actionable policy solutions and galvanise political and public support required to resolve the debt crisis. The group’s findings will inform the 2025 Financing for Development Conference. Analysts commend Manuel’s expertise but criticise the South African government for underutilising local talent, as the nation faces its own economic challenges.

# Cricket: South Africa completed a 2-nil Test series whitewash against Sri Lanka when they beat the visitors by 109 runs in Gqeberha. Sri Lanka resumed their second innings on 205 for five on the final morning, chasing a winning target of 348. But their last five wickets fell in quick succession and all the batters were out with 238 on the board. Spinner Keshav Maharaj took five wickets. With the victory, the Proteas advanced to the top of the World Test Championship.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-87-cents and the euro at 18-rand-88-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 98-thousand-998-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-651-dollars-93-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-70-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….