News 08:00

BULLETIN 12 December 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The SACP members serving in joint ANC election structures are asked to recuse themselves
# The Parliament welcomes an investigative task team following the matric exam breach
# And the US imposes sanctions on six Venezuelan oil ships

# ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa says the National General Council has resolved that South African Communist Party members, who are part of the ANC’s joint election structures, should recuse themselves. This as the SACP will contest the 2026 local government elections independently from the alliance. In his closing remarks at the NGC in Boksburg, Gauteng, yesterday evening, Ramaphosa said painstakingly that they will continue to engage with the SACP:

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Basic Education has welcomed the establishment of a National Investigative Task Team, following the breach detected in the 2025 National Senior Certificate examinations. The breach involved 26 matriculants from seven schools in Pretoria. The leaked papers are English Home Language, Mathematics, and Physical Science, while two Basic Education Department employees have been suspended. The committee says that every learner, parent, educator, and institution must have full confidence that examination outcomes are credible, fair, and reliable. It adds that safeguarding the NSC’s integrity is a national priority. 

# The Western Cape Mobility Department says efforts are underway to keep commuters safe and end violence in the minibus taxi industry. A ruling by the High Court in the Western Cape follows disputes between rival taxi groups over the M18 route. MEC for Mobility Isaac Sileku warns taxi operators to follow the rules or face legal action, as the department will work with police to ensure a safe, regulated taxi system:

# The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has imposed sanctions on three nephews of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro’s wife. It has also sanctioned Maduro-affiliated businessman Ramon Carretero, six firms in the oil sector, and six Venezuela-flagged ships. This comes a day after the US military seized an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says these sanctions undo the Biden Administration’s failed attempt to make a deal with Maduro, enabling his dictatorial and brutal control at the expense of the Venezuelan and American people.  

# Golf: South Africa’s Christiaan Burke and Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra both carded nine under-par 63s to lead the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Royal Johannesburg. The two are one stroke clear of the South African duo of former winner Brandon Stone and Thriston Lawrence. Another former champion, Branden Grace of South Africa, is just two strokes off the lead. Burke says he is satisfied with his performance so far:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-86-cents and the euro at 19-rand-79-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-58-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-233-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-270-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-54-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….