News 18:00

BULLETIN 4 January 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A gender activist says Pistorius’s release will open painful wounds for victims
# UK junior doctors launch the longest-ever National Health Service strike over a pay dispute
# And, cricket: India wins their first-ever Test at Newlands to square the series

# Gender activist Anele Mda has expressed concern that the release of Oscar Pistorius on parole would reopen wounds for the victims affected by the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius is set to be released tomorrow, a few weeks before the 11th anniversary of Steenkamp’s death. Mda told eNCA justice was not served in this particular murder case:

In another case, no-one has been arrested yet after a Northern Cape teenager was murdered at Brandvlei on New Year’s Eve. Eighteen-year-old Hesty-Anne Green attended a dance at the sports grounds the previous evening, and her family started searching for her when she didn’t return home. Her body was found in an abandoned building and police suspect she was raped as well. People in the vicinity heard a cry for help in the early morning hours, but was too afraid to investigate. Police have pleaded for people with information to come forward.

# The British Medical Association says it is open to ending the ongoing six-day junior doctors’ protest if the government presents a credible offer. The association, representing United Kingdom doctors, is in a pay dispute, demanding a 35-percent pay increase. The strike, disputing pay, could be the National Health Service’s longest stoppage. Health secretary Victoria Atkins insists the strike must end before negotiations. The strike has already caused disruptions in routine hospital services.

# Cricket: India won its first-ever Test at Newlands in Cape Town to square the two-match series against South Africa. The shortest Test in history ended shortly after lunch on the second day. The Proteas resumed their second innings on 62 for three this morning and was bowled out for 176 despite a brilliant century by opener Aiden Markram. India reached the target of 79 with just three wickets down. Captain Rohit Sharma was delighted that his team could bounce back after the innings defeat in the first Test:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-73-cents and the euro at 20-rand-49-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-74-cents and Bitcoin trades at 43-thousand-332-dollars-35-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-39-dollars-90-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-65-cents a barrel.

# And to end with: The South African Weather Service has issued a warning for severe thunderstorms in the Eastern Cape today. A yellow level-two alert is in effect, indicating potential heavy downpours, damaging winds, and small hail in the north-western interior this week. This caution follows severe floods that affected areas of the OR Tambo District, including Coffee Bay. Additionally, extremely high fire danger is anticipated in parts of the Northern Cape and Cederberg in the Western Cape.

Stay tuned for more news………….