Good News 14:00

BULLETIN 2 January 2 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, has announced adjustments to fuel prices effective from tomorrow. According to the department’s manager for the Energy Division, Robert Maake, the prices are set to decrease primarily due to a decline in crude oil prices. Maake says motorists are expected to benefit as the slate levy decreases from 26.32- to zero-cents-per-litre starting tomorrow. He says this adjustment reflects current local and international factors impacting fuel prices:

# International road deaths are showing a steady decline, with the World Health Organisation’s latest report naming ten countries who had a drop of 50-percent since 2010. These include Denmark, Japan, Norway, Russia and Venezuela. Another 35 experienced a reduction of between 30- and 50-percent over the past 13 years. The report shows an average decline of five percent over the period, translating to a 16-percent drop when the rise in population is taken into account. Pedestrians, motorcyclists, cyclists and scooter drivers account for over 50-percent of road fatalities.

# Over 200 medical interns have commenced their experiential training in rural areas in the Northern Cape. Provincial Health MEC, Maruping Lekwene welcomed the medical interns and in-service trainees at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley. He emphasised that their presence in various hospitals across the province contributes to the overall improvement of healthcare in different regions, addressing healthcare needs in rural areas:

# In the first few hours of 2024, 411 babies were born at public health facilities in South Africa. Health minister Joe Phaahla said 211 girls and 200 boys were born, with Gauteng having the highest number of 112. In KZN 84 babies were born with the youngest mother being a 14-year-old girl. North West recorded 33 births while 41 babies were born in Limpopo. In the Free State, 17 babies were born, the Eastern Cape recorded 52 births, and the Northern Cape 15. In the Western Cape, 29 babies were born while Mpumalanga recorded 28 births.

# And, cricket: Stand-in Proteas captain Dean Elgar hopes to end his Test career on a high by sealing a series victory over India. The second and final Test starts at Newlands in Cape Town tomorrow after South Africa won the first Test in Centurion by an innings and 32 runs within three days. Elgar took over the captaincy after Temba Bavuma was injured. Thirty-six-year-old Elgar, who announced his Test retirement before the first encounter, contributed a brilliant 185 in the Proteas’ only innings at SuperSport Park.

Stay tuned for more news………….