News 08:00

BULLETIN 23 December 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Solidarity threatens legal action if the BELA Act is gazetted without proper regulations for Sections 4 and 5
# Minister Solly Malatsi accuses speaker Thoko Didiza of stalling the SABC Bill’s withdrawal
# And Cricket: Pakistan claim an ODI series whitewash against the Proteas

# Lobby group, the Solidarity Movement has criticised president Cyril Ramaphosa’s comments on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act as vague. Speaking to eNCA, Solidarity’s Werner Human emphasised the need for cooperative governance in schools, involving both student governing bodies and the Education Department. Solidarity insists norms and standards for sections 4 and 5 must be implemented before gazetting, or face a court challenge:

# Communications and Digital Technologies minister, Solly Malatsi has accused National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza of delaying the withdrawal of the SABC Bill. According to The Citizen, Malatsi claimed Didiza’s actions breach parliamentary rules. The controversial bill, criticised for not addressing the SABC’s funding issues and increasing ministerial control, was formally withdrawn in November. Didiza, however, insisted the withdrawal needed portfolio committee approval, prompting a standoff. Cabinet members counter Malatsi, arguing only Cabinet can approve such decisions. Committee chairperson Khusela Diko condemned Malatsi’s actions as unwarranted and unconsitutional.

# The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development says additional security measures have been implemented to safeguard the Bishop Lavis Magistrate’s Court in Cape Town. On Saturday evening, protesters stormed the security gate of the court, where they smashed windows and set alight the front entrance. It is believed that the group was retaliating after a gang leader died in police presence. The department says systems are being implemented to ensure the continuation of court operations. 

# The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East says families in the southern city of Khan Younis in Gaza, are scavenging through rubbish for scraps of food to eat daily. Over one-thousand tonnes of trash is accumulated daily, which also spreads through displaced Palestinians’ tents and shelters. Unrwa’s spokesperson, Louise Wateridge, says last month, they contributed to over 60-percent of the total amount of waste collected, but it’s nowhere near enough:

# Cricket: Pakistan defeated South Africa by 36 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in the third and final ODI at the Wanderers in Johannesburg to claim a series whitewash. The match had been reduced to 47 overs per side due to rain. Twenty-two-year-old Saim Ayub scored 101 off 94 balls as he helped guide the visitors to 308 for nine. In reply, despite Heinrich Klaasen’s 81, the Proteas were bowled out for 271. Proteas captain Temba Bavuma says this was a disappointing series:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-28-cents and the euro at 19-rand-9-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 96-thousand-6-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-625-dollars-54-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-92-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….