News 18:00

BULLETIN 22 January 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Automobile Association urges behavioural driving to reduce road fatalities
# The ANC welcomes a High Court ruling on Ekurhuleni electricity tariffs
# And, Franschhoek is on alert as one wildfire line still threatens the town

# The Automobile Association of South Africa says South African drivers must adopt responsible and defensive driving habits to cut fatalities. It highlights that road safety begins with proper driver training focusing on behavioural techniques. CEO Bobby Ramagwede stressed to SABC News the importance of road infrastructure, vehicle fitness, and driver competence. He called for tighter transport regulations to ensure vehicles are roadworthy and drivers properly trained for safe passenger transport:

# The ANC in Ekurhuleni has welcomed a High Court in Pretoria order directing National Energy Regulator of South Africa to redo the 2024/25 electricity tariffs for the city and three other municipalities. Judge Anthony Milar ruled the previous tariffs unlawful. The ruling brings relief to residents and small businesses struggling with rising costs. The ANC says the decision reflects their people-centred campaign, public consultations, and advocacy, ensuring electricity pricing is fair, transparent, and responsive to households and local enterprises.

# The Cape Winelands District Municipality’s Fire Services says firefighters are making progress in containing the Franschhoek wildfires. Since 8 January, the fires have burned about 23-thousand-500 hectares. The municipality’s Jo-Anne Otto says most fire lines are under control, but one remains active and is moving toward areas with high fuel, posing a risk to the town:

# A gunman is reportedly at large in the Australian town of Lake Cargelligo following shootings at two addresses that killed two women and a man, and wounded another man. State police have cordoned off the town with a population of around one-thousand-500. Police know the gunman’s identity, but his name has not been released. The shootings came as Australia marked a national day of mourning for the victims of last month’s Bondi Beach attack where 15 people were killed during a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney.

# Rugby: Former England captain Jamie George, who signed a new one-year contract extension with Saracens, will retire next year. The 35-year-old, who made his international debut in 2015, has been capped 105 times by England. He has been part of Six Nations title-winning campaigns with his country, while also appearing at three World Cups – including the 2019 final, which England lost 32-12 to South Africa. George says supporting Saracens is what made him fall in love with the sport, and retiring a one-club man means a lot.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-21-cents and the euro at 18-rand-99-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-76-cents and Bitcoin trades at 89-thousand-451-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-822-dollars-18-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-79-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….