News 06:00

BULLETIN 18 December 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Home Affairs confirms seven arrested Kenyan nationals have self-deported
# CrisisOnCall calls for responsible travel choices amid rising festive season fatalities
# And, AfriForum applauds the withdrawal of the coal mining project near the Kruger National Park

# Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, says the seven Kenyan nationals arrested at a US refugee centre in Johannesburg have self-deported from South Africa. They were found illegally working in the country while in possession of tourist visas. Schreiber says the presence of foreign officials apparently coordinating with undocumented workers naturally raises serious questions about intent and diplomatic protocol:

# Former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has raised safety concerns after challenging her late life partner Richard Foxton’s estate. Speaking at the Master of the High Court in Johannesburg, Madonsela says she faced a relentless media campaign against her and alleges irregularities in how the estate was being reported. She claims Foxton’s children and the estate’s executor are trying to enforce an invalid document, prompting her to take legal action:

# Emergency care service, CrisisOnCall, urges South Africans to travel responsibly this festive season as road deaths increase. The organisation says December is one of the most dangerous times, with 28 people already killed in the Western Cape in the first week of the holidays. Drunk driving, speeding, and risky behaviour remain major causes. The organisation’s Ruan Vermaak warns that one poor decision can lead to serious injury, loss of life, or long-term consequences for families.

# AfriForum says the proposed coal mine near the southern border of Kruger National Park has been withdrawn following years of public opposition. The environmental assessment, mining rights, waste management, and water use applications by Tenbosch Mining have all been terminated. AfriForum’s Marais de Vaal urges the government to ensure stricter oversight for future mining applications in ecologically sensitive areas:

# Venezuela, home to the world’s largest identified oil reserves, has accused the US of trying to steal its resources through warmongering threats. This comes as president Donald Trump has ordered a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. Since September, the US military has killed at least 90 people with its strikes on boats that were allegedly carrying fentanyl and other illegal drugs to the US. Venezuela has affirmed its sovereignty over all natural resources and its right to free trade in the Caribbean Sea.

# Cricket: Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey also believed he edged the ball when he was given not out during yesterday’s first day of the third Ashes Test against England in Adelaide. The English were left fuming after the technology didn’t pick up an apparent nick before the catch was taken. Carey had 72 at the time and went on to score 106 on his home ground. England’s bowling coach, David Saker, says this was not the first time in the series the visitors were ill-served by the technology.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-75-cents and the euro at 19-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-41-cents and Bitcoin trades at 86-thousand-115-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-338-dollars-18-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 60-dollars-26-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….