News 08:00

BULLETIN 26 December 8 am

Good morning I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Archbishop Thabo Makgoba says politicians must take back seat in 2025
# An education activist urges mediation in legal dispute over matric results
# Cricket: A place in World Test Championship is on offer for South Africa in the series against Pakistan

# Archbishop Thabo Makgoba says 2025 could become a year of transformation in South Africa if politicians take a back seat and allow marginalised voices, including the unemployed, to speak for themselves. Preaching at the Midnight Mass in St. George’s Cathedral, Cape Town, the archbishop said the most urgent issue for national dialogue is to address the crisis facing young South Africans. Makgoba said the Ramaphosa administration in many ways did not meet expectations. He added the Government of National Unity will go the same way if politicians continue to live in the past.

# Education activist Hendrick Makaneta expressed concern over the legal conflict between the Department of Basic Education and the Information Regulator regarding the publication of 2024’s matric results. He calls for mediation to resolve the dispute over privacy and transparency, emphasising the need for a balanced approach. Makaneta emphasises that the current tension could negatively affect learners and the broader education sector:

# The City of Tshwane has launched its festive season bonanza, offering customers in arrears up to 100-percent interest charge write-off for settling accounts by New Year’s Eve. The city’s spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo, says partial settlements with arrangements of up to 24-months qualify for 50-percent interest relief. He calls on residents to visit designated customer care centres as adherence boosts the write-off percentage:

# Children are among 29 people rescued alive from the wreckage of a passenger plane that crashed in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day. Kazakh authorities say 38 people were killed in the crash, while the rest survived. According to the airline the flight caught fire as it attempted to make an emergency landing near the Kazakh city of Aktau. The plane was en route to Grozny in Russia but diverted due to fog. Unconfirmed reports from Russian media said the aircraft might have collided with a flock of birds before crashing.

# And, cricket: A place in the final of the World Test Championship is on offer for the Proteas in the two-match series against Pakistan, starting in Centurion today. A series victory will earn South Africa the chance to play for the title at Lord’s in London in June, while just one victory will already strengthen their chances. The second Test starts in Cape Town next Friday. The only two other teams still in the championship running, Australia and India, are playing in the fourth Test in Melbourne from today.

Stay tuned for more news………….