News 08:00

BULLETIN 2 January 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A 12-year-old girl gives birth in the Eastern Cape
# President Cyril Ramaphosa says government’s primary focus must remain on the prevention of gender-based violence
# And cricket, the Proteas coach realises they need good competition to prepare for the final of the World Test Championship

# The Department of Health says it concern about teenage girls who continue to be counted amongst mothers across the country after a 12-year-old girl gave birth at the Frontier Hospital in the Eastern Cape. The Department spokesperson, Foster Mohale says over 650 babies were delivered in public health facilities across the country between midnight and 5pm on the first day of the year:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says in the past year South Africa continued to focus its attention on the fight against gender-based violence and femicide. In his New Year’s message to the nation he said government have strengthened the capabilities of the criminal justice system and improved support for survivors. Ramaphosa says the primary focus must be the protection of young girls and women in the country:

# Deputy President Paul Mashatile has written an urgent letter to Cabinet ministers to submit all outstanding responses to parliamentary questions. They have until next Monday to submit the outstanding replies for 2024. Questions asked by National Assembly MPs will expire on 9 January, and those from the National Council of Provinces on the following day. Mashatile warned cabinet ministers to provide reasons for the unanswered questions, with remedial action to be taken to address the matter. Opposition parties have previously complained about the executive’s failure to respond to their written questions.

# Five people have been killed and dozens of emergency workers were injured as a spate of incidents involving fireworks marred New Year’s Eve celebrations in Germany. Firefighters and other emergency services personnel were targeted with at least 13 attacks on emergency workers reported. Firefighters in Berlin responded to one-thousand-892 incidents on New Year’s Eve and 330 people were detained. A German environmental organisation has since renewed its calls for a nationwide ban on the private sale of pyrotechnics on New Year’s Eve.

# Cricket: Proteas Test coach Shukri Conrad is facing a dilemma while preparing his team for June’s final of the World Test Championship. At this stage, South Africa will only play in one more Test before then – the second Test against Pakistan, starting at Newlands in Cape Town tomorrow. Thereafter, the players will primarily be involved in white-ball action, starting with the SA20 competion and advancing to the Indian Premier League. Conrad says they will have to find some good opposition to prepare properly for the final.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-81-cents and the euro at 19-rand-50-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-57-cents and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-705-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-632-dollars-61-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-73-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….