News 16:00

BULLETIN 4 January 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Turkey joins Malaysia in backing South Africa’s genocide case against Israel
# The DA exposes grant mismanagement among public servants
# And, cricket: India wins the shortest Test in history at Newlands to square the series

# Turkey has joined Malaysia in expressing support for South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, set to be heard in the International Court of Justice in the Hague next Thursday. Turkey’s foreign affairs department condemned the killing of over 22-thousand Palestinians, urging that those responsible be held accountable according to international law. France, currently presiding over the United Nations Security Council, pledged to respect the court’s decision. Malaysia echoed support, urging Israel to end atrocities against Palestinians.

# The DA has uncovered widespread mismanagement, revealing that over five-thousand-800 public servants, spanning various provinces and national departments, received the Covid-19 social relief of distress grant in 2020. Last year 33-thousand-833 public servants had their grants lapse and were referred to the Fraud and Compliance Unit for failing to undergo mandatory reviews. The DA’s Mimmy Gondwe says the party’s probe unearthed one-thousand-815 criminal cases, prompting coordinated recovery efforts by the Department of Public Service and Administration and the South African Social Security Agency.

# The Border Management Authority has prevented over four-thousand individuals from entering South Africa as they return from festive season celebrations. Border Management Authority deputy assistant commissioner, Stephen van Neel, says that these individuals were denied entry due to lacking proper documentation. Van Neel says security agencies have been deployed to address vulnerabilities along the borderline to curb illegal immigration. Screening is also taking place as most people are returning from cholera prone countries including Zimbabwe:

# Cricket: India reigned supreme in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town, which was the shortest Test in history. It lasted just 642 balls after 23 wickets fell on the first day yesterday. This is also India’s first Test victory ever at Newlands. The Proteas resumed their second innings on 62 for three and it was just opener Aiden Markram with a magnificent 106 runs that kept South Africa going. The hosts were bowled out for 176, and India reached the target of 79 off just 12 overs with three wickets down to level the series.

# And finally: The City of Cape Town says the Identikidz project has tagged 85-thousand-916 children at beaches since the beginning of the festive season. The project was established in 2016 by the metro and is aimed at promoting child safety at beaches across Cape Town during the festive season. Mayoral committee member for Community Services and Health, Patricia van der Ross says beaches along the False Bay coast between Muizenberg and Strand have recorded the highest number of children being tagged since the Identikidz project started:

Stay tuned for more news………….