News 13:00

BULLETIN 20 December 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Health Department calls for calm following a surge in rubella cases
# The Justice Department and the NPA strengthen their collaboration on access to the state capture database
# And soccer: Roy Keane says leaving Manchester United could do Marcus Rashford the world of good

# The Health Department has urged the public to remain calm following a surge in rubella cases, with over ten-thousand reported this year, mostly in children under 15-years of age. Gauteng and the Western Cape have recorded the highest numbers. Parents are advised to watch for symptoms such as rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. The department’s spokesperson, Foster Mohale, says while rubella is a mild illness in children, it poses severe risks to pregnant women and their unborn babies:

# The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the National Prosecuting Authority have agreed to strengthen their collaboration. This concerns the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption’s required access to information from the State Capture Commission. In September, the NPA stated that the department had created stumbling blocks in accessing the commission’s evidence database. The department’s spokesperson, Terrence Manase, says the discussions with the NPA have been constructive:

# The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality in the Eastern Cape has warned residents of water disruptions for the next 48 to 72 hours. Urgent repairs are underway to restore supply. The municipality reports reduced output at the Loerie and Nooitgedacht water treatment works. According to TimesLIVE, reservoir zones, including Motherwell and Greenbushes, are critically low, with levels at 15 to 13-percent or less. The municipality has urged residents to use water sparingly.

# French woman Gisèle Pelicot, whose ex-husband and 50 other men were sentenced for a series of rapes and sex attacks against her, says she fought for people around the world who are victims of sexual violence. She spoke outside the court in Avignon and called for a future where all people can live together in harmony, respect and mutual understanding. Her former husband, Dominique Pelicot, admitted drugging and raping her and inviting dozens of strangers he met online to do the same at their home.

# Soccer: Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane believes leaving United could do Marcus Rashford the world of good as he fears the forward will never regain his hunger at Old Trafford. Rashford’s future appears to be in the balance after the 27-year-old, a product of United’s youth system, was left out for the Manchester derby. United won 2-1 at Manchester City on Sunday, with Rashford saying he was ready for a new challenge and the next steps.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-33-cents and the euro at 19-rand-4-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-132-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-605-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-91-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….