News 12:00

BULLETIN 24 December 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Eight more people are killed in road crashes in the Eastern Cape
# Israel admits to killing a Hamas leader earlier this year
# And rugby: JD Schickerling says he is ready for Eben Etzebeth on Saturday

# Four people believed to be family members have been killed in a head-on collision between a car and a truck on the R61 between Komani and Tarkastad in the Eastern Cape last night. The provincial Department of Transport’s spokesperson, Unathi Binqose, says in another accident, a woman and her three children were killed when their vehicle collided with another on the N2 near Qumbu:

# The latest Debt Rescue Survey on financial distress has revealed that many South African households may not be able to enjoy the festive season. The year has been challenging for many consumers as they face massive affordability constraints. Debt Rescue CEO Neil Roets told SABC News that many are choosing to reduce their Christmas spending to avoid falling further into financial difficulty in the coming year:

# Israeli Defence minister Israel Katz has for the first time publicly admitted to his country’s killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran in July. Iranian authorities blamed the killing on Jerusalem, but there was no direct claim of responsibility at the time. Katz has now acknowledged responsibility while warning the military would decapitate the leadership of Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The Houthis have been attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea for more than a year to try to enforce a naval blockade on Israel.

# Rugby: Stormers lock JD Schickerling says he can’t wait to face Springbok enforcer Eben Etzebeth when his team welcomes the Sharks to Cape Town for a United Rugby Championship clash on Saturday. It is their second encounter this season after the Sharks beat the Stormers in Durban earlier. Schickerling produced a Man of the Match performance in the Stormers’ bonus-point victory over the Lions last week. Etzebeth is recovering from concussion symptoms, but could join fellow former Stormers star Siya Kolisi in the Sharks lineup.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-57-cents and the euro at 19-rand-29-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-27-cents and Bitcoin trades at 94-thousand-261-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-618-dollars-72-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-80-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago has been nominated to succeed Stellenbosch University’s Chancellor, retired judge Edwin Cameron. Kganyayo is is the sole nominee. The university’s procedures require a secret ballot if only one nominee is put forward, with a majority vote needed to confirm the appointment. Cameron’s tenure is ending amid controversy over his initial dismissal of serious allegations of abuse and misconduct at the university’s Wilgenhof residence. He is due to step down on 31 December.

Stay tuned for more news………….