News 11:00

BULLETIN 23 December 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Forum for South Africa condemns proposed salary increases for public office bearers
# Minister Barbara Creecy decries moving traffic violations as the number one cause of road crashes
# And, Soil of Africa welcomes a breakthrough in the Saulsville mass shooting

# The Forum for South Africa has strongly condemned the recommendation of a 4.1-percent salary increase for public office bearers. The recommendation by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers is for the 2025/2026 financial year. FOSA leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, says any salary increases for public office bearers should be frozen until crime is significantly reduced, corruption cases result in convictions, and service delivery improves:

# Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, has called for calm and adherence to traffic laws, as moving traffic violations begin to linger on ahead of another week of traffic rush leading to Christmas and New Year’s break. The Road Traffic Management Corporation has reported 50-thousand traffic fines issued over this festive period relating to speeding already, and 255 drivers arrested for driving at high speed and exceeding the speed limit. Creecy is urging motorists to buckle up, obey the speed limit, don’t drink and drive and rest every two hours.

# The Soil of Africa Advocacy Movement has welcomed the arrest of one suspect in connection with the Saulsville mass shooting. Twelve people were killed when three gunmen opened fire at patrons of an unlicensed tavern in the Tshwane township more than two weeks ago. The youngest victim was a three-year-old child. The movement’s chairperson, Bongani Ramontja, says those responsible for terrorising communities must face the full consequences of the law:

# Denmark’s Foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, says he is deeply upset at the appointment of Louisiana Governor, Jeff Landry, as the US Special Envoy to Greenland. In making the announcement, US president Donald Trump stated that Landry understands how essential Greenland is to national security and will strongly advance the country’s interests for the safety, security, and survival of American allies. Rasmussen says Landry’s comments declaring that he wished to see Greenland become part of the US are very concerning.

# Rugby: An appeal by a mix of professional and amateur players who allege they sustained long-term neurological damage during their careers has been denied. The players claim that World Rugby, the Welsh Rugby Union, England’s Rugby Football Union, the Rugby Football League, and the British Amateur Rugby League Association breached a duty of care to protect them from injury. They claim they are now living with conditions including early-onset dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy. In their joint statement, the governing bodies reiterated that player welfare remains a central priority.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-68-cents and the euro at 19-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-51-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-48-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-481-dollars-71-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-41-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….