News 12:00

BULLETIN 11 December 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Two Basic Education Department employees are suspended over matric exam leaks
# Australia’s premier defends the social media ban as teens brag about staying online
# And rugby: Eben Etzebeth says the eye gouging incident was not intentional

# Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube has confirmed that two employees from the department have been suspended for their alleged involvement in a National Senior Certificate examination breach in Gauteng. The breach was identified in three subjects, English Home Language, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences, and involves 26 learners across seven schools in the Pretoria area. Gwarube says they have reported the employees to police:

# Tourism minister Patricia de Lille says safety is the foundation of tourism growth. Forty of the 202 tourism monitors allocated to the Border Management Authority have been officially deployed at OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park to strengthen visibility and visitor support. De Lille calls on communities across the country to work with government and the private sector to ensure South Africa maintains its global appeal and remains a destination where visitors feel safe.

Meanwhile, the Garden Route National Park in the Western Cape is ready for the festive season. Enhanced staffing, upgraded facilities, and strengthened safety measures across the Wilderness, Tsitsikamma, and Knysna sections will ensure visitors enjoy a safe and memorable holiday. SANParks spokesperson JP Louw reminded visitors to carry a valid ID and use water sparingly while exploring the park’s attractions:

Moving abroad:

# Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese took aim at young people parading themselves on social media a day after a world-first ban on the use for under-16’s went live. He says the rollout was always going to be bumpy but would ultimately save lives. The country’s social media feeds were flooded with comments from people claiming to be under 16, bragging they are still online. Under the law, ten of the biggest platforms, including TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, must bar underage users or face multi-million-rand fines.

# 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. In the social media post, Etzebeth used 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-90-cents and the euro at 19-rand-77-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-60-cents and Bitcoin trades at 90-thousand-159-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-215-dollars-35-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-52-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….