News 10:00

BULLETIN 23 December 10 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Road Traffic Management Corporation urges motorists to comply with traffic rules
# Thabo Bester is challenging his ‘unconstitutional’ prison conditions
# And, Donald Trump warns Nicolás Maduro against playing ‘tough’

# With the festive season travel in full swing, the Road Traffic Management Corporation is encouraging vehicle owners to fix their vehicles and renew vehicle licences. During the festive period last year, vehicle factors contributed 6.9-percent of total fatal crashes in the country, 65.7-percent of these were due to tyre bursts and 11.4-percent due to faulty brakes. RTMC spokesperson, Simon Zwane, says driving with an expired disc in South Africa incurs penalties:

# Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester has launched an urgent application in the Gauteng High Court, seeking to have what he says are unconstitutional detention conditions set aside while he awaits trial. He argues that his detention conditions, including solitary confinement at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre, are not those of an ordinary accused person held in custody pending the outcome of his criminal trial. Kgosi Mampuru, acting head, Ntsizi Qebengu, says Bester’s detention is in line with the fact that he is a convicted murderer and rapist.

# The Gauteng Education Department says six-thousand-855 placement appeals have been lodged as part of the 2026 Online Admissions placement process for Grades 1 and 8. Already 73-percent of these have been adjudicated. The department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, says the appeals process remains at an advanced stage, and outcomes are being communicated to parents and guardians as finalisation progresses. He adds that parents are reminded that appeal outcomes are final:

# US president Donald Trump says it would be smart for Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro to step down as tensions mount between the two countries. This is amid a massive US naval buildup in the Caribbean Sea as Trump applies pressure on Maduro, including attempts to cut off his oil revenues. Trump, who last week ordered a complete blockade of sanctioned tankers going in and out of Venezuela, has warned Maduro about playing tough:

# Cricket: Australian captain Pat Cummins and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon have been left out of the 15-member squad for the fourth Ashes Test against England starting on Friday in Melbourne. Cummins is being rested, having only recently returned from his back issue, while Lyon tore his right hamstring in the third Test and will undergo surgery. Off-spinner Todd Murphy and fast bowler Jhye Richardson have been drafted into the squad. Steve Smith will lead the side in the absence of Cummins. Australia have an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-70-cents and the euro at 19-rand-67-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-53-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-743-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-475-dollars-89-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-35-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….