News 09:00

BULLETIN 26 December 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Over 570 Christmas babies welcomed in South Africa
# Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky condemns Russia’s Christmas Day attack
# And, rugby: United Rugby Championship action starts in Newport today

# The Department of Health celebrated the safe delivery of over 570 babies, including six sets of twins, on Christmas Day in public health facilities nationwide. The first baby arrived exactly at midnight at Osindisweni Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal. Many of the new mothers in the country were teenagers, including a 13-year-old in Limpopo and several 15-year-olds across KwaZulu-Natal. The department applauded midwives for their dedication and urged mothers to prioritise immunisations, breastfeeding and essential newborn care, highlighting the importance of the first one-thousand days for healthy child development.

Home Affairs deputy minister, Njabulo Nzuza, has meanwhile reiterated plans to digitise birth registrations. Speaking during a visit to Tembisa Hospital in Gauteng yesterday, Nzuza said the project aims to convert over 350-million paper records to digital formats by 2025/2026. Nzuza emphasised modernisation and preserving vital records, with Gauteng, North West, and Western Cape housing the largest archives:

And in Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has called on parents to immunise their children. While welcoming Christmas babies at the Tembisa Hospital, she stressed the roll of vaccinations in preventing diseases such as measles, polio, and rubella. The MEC reminded parents that timely immunisation protects individual children and strengthens overall public health by triggering the immune systems to fight infections effectively:

# Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia made a conscious choice by launching a major attack on his country’s energy infrastructure on Christmas Day. Ukraine’s air force said it had detected 184 missiles and drones, but many were shot down or missed their targets. Russia’s defence confirmed the attack, which led to power cuts across the country, including in the capital Kyiv. This was the 13th major attack on Ukraine’s energy sector this year. In September Zelensky said 80-percent of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure had been destroyed by Russian bombs.

# And, rugby: The ninth round of the United Rugby Championship starts today already, when Dragons host Cardiff in Newport, Wales. Tomorrow, Irish teams Munster and Leinster will do battle in Limerick. On Saturday afternoon, the Stormers and the Sharks face off in a coastal derby in Cape Town, while the Bulls and the Lions have a Christmas break. The Bulls are currently third on the log behind Leinster and defending champion Glasgow Warriors, the Sharks are fourth, the Lions seventh and the Stormers 13th.

Stay tuned for more news………….