News 06:00

BULLETIN 15 December 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Canada warns travellers to exercise caution in South Africa
# The Road Accident Fund  blows millions in questionable call centre deal
# And, at least 15 are dead in an Australian Jewish massacre

# Canada has issued a travel advisory urging its citizens visiting South Africa to exercise a high degree of caution due to violent crime. The warning cites incidents of armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, assault, and theft affecting foreign visitors. Travellers are advised to prioritise their safety, avoid isolated areas, be vigilant after dark, use secure accommodation, and comply if confronted by criminals. The advisory follows similar warnings previously issued by the United States and China.

# Political analyst Mazwe Majola says the long-standing alliance between the ANC and the South African Communist Party is nearing a split. The SACP announced its decision to contest future elections independently, including the 2026 local government polls. ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa asked SACP members to recuse themselves from ANC strategy meetings pending an alliance summit next year. SACP’s Madala Masuku says the party fears a transactional relationship with the ANC. Majola believes the talks will fail, signalling the beginning of the end of the alliance.

# The Road Accident Fund is under scrutiny after replacing its in-house call centre that cost about 25-million-rand a year, with an outsourced provider at nearly 199-million-rand over 13 months. The contract was reportedly awarded without a proper tender process, raising questions about maladministration and governance at the RAF. Allegations of irregular procurement and questionable justifications have emerged, with a whistleblower disputing performance claims. The Standing Committee on Public Accounts is investigating the matter.

# KwaZulu-Natal premier Thami Ntuli says the Verulam temple collapse in Durban is a disaster, possibly linked to technical issues or noncompliance during construction. Five bodies have been retrieved so far. Ntuli highlighted the need for municipalities to identify illegal constructions. He called for collaboration between national and provincial public works, local government, and other departments to ensure building safety amid climate change risks affecting construction materials:

# At least 15 people were killed in a shooting targeting the Jewish community on Australia’s Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sunday. The attack, which has been declared a terrorist incident, happened as people gathered to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday. Forty people, including a child, were wounded. One suspect is dead, while the other is in a critical condition in the hospital. Prime minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as an act of evil, antisemitism, and terrorism:

# Golf: South Africa’s Jayden Schaper made an eagle in a play-off to defeat compatriot and defending champion Shaun Norris and win the Alfred Dunhill Championship. The pair were tied at 16 under par after the tournament was reduced to 54 holes, but it was Schaper who claimed a first DP World Tour win in the first play-off hole. Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra finished third. Schaper described this win as special:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-84-cents and the euro at 19-rand-78-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-53-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-890-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-306-dollars-15-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 60-dollars-90-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….