News 11:00

BULLETIN 11 December 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A matric exam breach is identified in seven Gauteng schools
# Venezuela denounces the US’ seizure of its oil tanker and calls it an act of international piracy
# And rugby: Eben Etzebeth says the eye gouging incident was not intentional

# Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube says markers picked up irregularities in six National Senior Certificate examination scripts in Gauteng. The provincial Education Department alerted the national department to unusual similarities provided by candidates to the marking guidelines. Gwarube says the breaches on English Home Language papers 1, 2, and 3, Mathematics papers 1 and 2, and Physical Sciences papers 1 and 2, involve 26 learners in the Pretoria area:

# United Africans Transformation says the government of national unity is in crisis, unable to agree on policies or provide stable leadership. It says public conflicts, reliance on outside support for the budget, and internal divisions reveal a government at war with itself. Spokesperson Mighty Mabule calls for the orderly dissolution of the GNU to allow a stable, accountable leadership:

# ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has criticised some members of the party who want Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero to resign. Morero lost his bid to be re-elected as the ANC Greater Johannesburg regional chairperson last week when Loyiso Masuku was elected. Mbalula says being chairperson of a region does not give a person the status of a mayor, especially in a city where the ANC is not in charge:

Moving abroad:

# The Venezuelan government has strongly denounced the seizure of a large oil tanker ship off the coast of the country by the US military, describing the move as a grave international crime. US Attorney General Pam Bondi alleged the vessel had been involved in an illicit oil shipping network, supporting foreign terrorist organisations, and transporting oil between Venezuela and Iran. The Venezuelan government says America’s policy of aggression against the country is part of a deliberate plan to plunder its energy resources.

# Rugby: Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has taken to social media to address his 12-week match ban. Last week, an independent disciplinary panel found him guilty of eye-gouging Wales flanker Alex Mann in Cardiff last month. Etzebeth uses three video clips to make the point that his action was accidental, but accepts guilt. He says he does not want young kids who look up to the Boks to think it’s okay to eye gouge someone, but unfortunately, mistakes happen.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-92-cents and the euro at 19-rand-79-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-64-cents and Bitcoin trades at 90-thousand-190-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-213-dollars-11-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-57-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….