News 13:00

BULLETIN 5 January 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# High traffic volumes and adverse weather conditions are expected on the N3 Toll Route
# Johannesburg’s informal settlements record huge losses of water
# And Cricket: Australia’s Cameron Bancroft broke his nose and shoulder in a nasty collision

# N3 Toll Concession says high traffic volumes on the N3 Toll Route in excess of two-thousand vehicles per hour are expected northbound towards Gauteng today. Spokesperson Thania Dhoogra says the South African Weather Service has warned of disruptive rainstorms that may occur today until Wednesday. She says this time of year, many parts of the N3 Toll Route in Free State, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng are prone to severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, and hail:

Meanwhile, seven-thousand-448 people were arrested on South African roads over the festive period for various offences including drunken driving, speeding, and attempted bribery. The Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesperson Simon Zwane says so far, more than 1.1-million vehicles were stopped and checked as part of the festive season enforcement plan aimed at promoting safety on national roads. He agrees that driving conditions might become worse as a result of the weather:

# Johannesburg Water says it will intensify its mass disconnection programme in all informal settlements across the city as huge loses have been recorded. Spokesperson, Nombuso Shabalala says the water entity continues to provide nominal services through water tankers on a daily basis to the approximately 36-thousand informal settlement households in the region. Shabalala says additionally, the entity also provides chemical toilets for sanitation:

# Vogue editor Dame Anna Wintour, U2 frontman Bono, billionaire George Soros, and US politician Hillary Clinton are among those who have received America’s highest civilian honour from outgoing president Joe Biden. The Presidential Medal of Freedom was awarded to 19 people this year, spanning cultural icons, politicians and campaigners. The White House say they have been chosen because are they are good people who have made extraordinary contributions. The medal is awarded at the discretion of the president on the advice of an external advisory panel.

# Cricket: Australian international Cameron Bancroft suffered a broken shoulder and nose in a nasty collision with teammate Daniel Sams during a Big Bash League match. Both players were hospitalised following the accidental clash in the field against Perth Scorchers on Friday as they went to catch the same ball. Bancroft, who was banned for nine months over a ball-tampering scandal in 2018 against South Africa, had blood streaming from his nose. Both players were concussed and will miss at least the next four Big Bash League matches.

Stay tuned for more news………….