News 18:00

BULLETIN 12 December 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The GOOD Party demands accountability following a raid on the Bergrivier mayor’s residence
# Northern Cape schools are unfunded as the MEC is scrutinised over the spending of 3.5-million-rand
# And cricket: Anrich Nortjé will miss the remaining T20s and the ODI series against Pakistan

# The GOOD Party in the Western Cape is demanding accountability after Bergrivier municipal mayor Ray van Rooy was questioned by police following a raid on his home, where a substantial quantity of drugs was allegedly found. The DA member was released without charge after  12-hours. Police reportedly discovered 700 grams of cocaine and ammunition at his residence in Piketberg. GOOD’s Evert Manuel calls for a fair investigation into the allegations:

# The DA says the Northern Cape Education Department has failed to fund schools in four of five districts, jeopardising 2025 preparations. The DA’s Priscilla Isaacs demands MEC Abraham Vosloo to be held accountable for non-payments affecting nutrition programmes, stationery, and maintenance. Isaacs says schools are resorting to salary funds for operational costs, as the department spent 3.5-million-rand on discretionary gifts. She has called for a full report and immediate funding to schools as education quality hangs in the balance.

# South African farmers are optimistic about 2025, with favourable weather conditions and plans to expand planting. They aim to cultivate up to 4.47-million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds, a one-percent increase from the previous season. Agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo noted that while food price inflation eased to 1.6-percent in November 2024, the lowest since 2010, high white maize prices remain a concern due to poor 2023/24 harvests. However, La Niña rains and improved crop prospects are expected to support lower food prices later in 2025.

# Angolan president João Lourenço has called for more frequent meetings of the bilateral cooperation commission to strengthen ties with South Africa. During his state visit in Pretoria, he highlighted the growing South African investment in Angola, particularly in sectors like finance, telecommunications, and transport. Speaking via an interpreter, Lourenço also urged South Africa’s support for Angola’s upcoming chairmanship of the African Union next year:

# Cricket: Proteas fast bowler Anrich Nortjé will miss the remainder of the T20 series against Pakistan as well as the three one-day matches. He already sat out Tuesday’s first T20 after injuring his big toe during training, and a scan confirmed a fracture. Northern Titans allrounder Dayyaan Galiem will replace Nortjé for the remaing two encounters. South Africa won the first match in Durban by 11 runs. The second one will be played in Centurion tomorrow and the final one at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Saturday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-73-cents and the euro at 18-rand-60-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-55-cents and Bitcoin trades at 101-thousand-144-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-689-dollars-56-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-98-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….