News 16:00

BULLETIN 10 December 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa seeks unified efforts to boost the economy
# Cape Town assists the police with the probe of an alleged explosive device at a Jewish community centre
# And tennis: Aryna Sabalenka is voted the WTA’s player of the year

# President Cyril Ramaphosa called for unified efforts across all levels of government to boost the economy. In his address to Mpumalanga’s provincial executive, he emphasised the importance of cooperation, collaboration, and effective planning to drive inclusive economic growth. Ramaphosa says aligning strategies and collaborating will promote inclusive growth, create jobs, and ensure economic benefits reach all South Africans:

# The City of Cape Town is assisting police in investigating an alleged explosive device incident at the Jewish Community Centre last week. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis confirmed that Metro Police are aiding the analysis of CCTV footage, with the case handed to the Hawks. He condemns any potential attack, reaffirming Cape Town’s commitment to being a safe place. Hill-Lewis says the Mother City has a proud history of being a place where people of all religions can live peacefully.

# The Gauteng government lost over 176-million-rand to financial misconduct in the last five years, with over 16-million-rand lost in 2023/24 alone. A report to the standing committee on Public Accounts revealed 253 cases, including fraud, theft, and misappropriation. The DA’s Solly Mahlangu urged premier Panyaza Lesufi to recover funds through the Asset Forfeiture Unit, and blacklist guilty officials. He also advocates for expedited disciplinary processes and whistle-blower protection:

# Former world champion cyclist Rohan Dennis has pleaded guilty over a car incident in Australia which killed his wife, fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins. She died in December last year after being struck by a vehicle driven by Dennis outside their home in Adelaide. Dennis’s guilty plea means he has admitted to driving a car when Hoskins was in close proximity, knowing that act was likely to cause harm. Dennis, a multiple world champion on both road and track, retired last year.

# Tennis: World number one, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, was named the Women’s Tennis Association’s player of the year after clinching two Grand Slam titles – the Australian Open and the US Open – this season. She also won the Cincinnati Open in America, and the Wuhan Open in China. Twenty-six-year-old Sabalenka replaced Iga Swiatek on top of the world rankings in October after the Polish player occupied the position for 11 months. The international tennis media votes for the winner.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-87-cents and the euro at 18-rand-81-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-78-cents and Bitcoin trades at 97-thousand-593-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-676-dollars-18-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-73-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….