News 07:00

BULLETIN 12 December 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The SACP says it’s not leaving the alliance
# The director-general of Transport, James Mlawu has resigned
# And cricket: The England women’s team wins the ODI series against South Africa

# The South African Communist Party says its decision to contest the 2026 local government elections independently does not mean it is leaving the alliance. The SACP, which has campaigned for the ANC since the country’s first democratic elections in 1994, has become increasingly critical of the ANC’s track record in government. SACP general secretary, Solly Mapaila, says there is no turning back on its decision:

# The National Union of Mineworkers has declared a wage dispute with Exxaro after failing to agree on a multi-year wage deal. NUM demands a seven-percent increase and a one-year agreement, rejecting Exxaro’s 6.5-percent offer over three years. Discontent stems from unmet conditions, including standby allowance hikes. The matter will now go to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. NUM plans urgent mass meetings at Grootgeluk and Leeuwpan mines to update members.

# Department of Transport director-general, advocate James Mlawu, has resigned to pursue other interests. He joined the department in November 2022. Mlawu will serve a prescribed notice period of three months, until the 28th of February 2025, in line with the Public Service Act prescripts and the senior management service handbook. Minister Barbara Creecy has thanked Mlawu for his service to the department and wished him the best in his future endeavours.

# The DA in Johannesburg has criticised mayor Dada Morero’s plan to relocate his office to the fire-damaged Usindiso building, where over 70 people tragically lost their lives. The party calls it a waste of money, especially with the city facing a 27-billion-rand infrastructure backlog. The DA’s Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku vows to oppose this move, demanding that city resources focus on improving service delivery and serving the residents, not the mayor’s costly vanity project:

# European Union ambassadors have approved the bloc’s 15th package of sanctions against Russia in response to its ongoing military aggression in Ukraine. The new package adds more persons and entities to the already existing sanctions list. It also constrains the activity of additional vessels of third states operating to contribute or support actions or policies supporting Russia’s actions against Ukraine. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says the EU and its G7 partners are committed to closing loopholes and targeting the global networks enabling Russia’s war efforts.

# Cricket: England Women claimed a two-one series victory over South Africa, after winning the third and final ODI in Potchefstroom by six wickets on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. Captain Laura Wolvaardt top-scored with 61 as the Proteas posted 233 for eight. In reply, chasing a revised target of 152 runs from 23 overs following a rain delay, Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones shared an unbeaten 90-run partnership for the fifth wicket, to guide England to victory. Beaumont says it was a good batting wicket:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-68-cents and the euro at 18-rand-57-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-57-cents and Bitcoin trades at 100-thousand-718-dollar-60-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-710-dollars-12-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-50-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….