News 07:00

BULLETIN 24 December 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# SANEDI calls for restructured tariffs to lower electricity prices
# Cricket: The Proteas coach still believes they are title contenders in the Champions Cup
# And, Chart history for Wham’s Last Christmas

# The South African National Energy Development Institute has urged Eskom to lower electricity costs by restructuring tariffs. Speaking to the SABC News, Energy Secretariat head, Sampson Mamphweli, emphasised sustainability to shield poor households from high costs. He advocates for renewable energy technologies to ensure affordable electricity access, calling for swift action to support struggling communities amid rising tariffs:

# Correctional Services Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale announced that 143 officials were dismissed this financial year due to various offences, with further cases under investigation. Thobakgale was speaking to the SABC after leading a raid at Pietermaritzburg’s New Prison, where authorities confiscated contraband including cash, cellphones, and other electronic devices in a bid to tighten security and curb corruption. He noted a troubling decline in staff numbers:

# The Kremlin has rejected media reports suggesting the wife of ousted Syrian president Bashar al Assad wants a divorce and to leave Russia. The family fled to Russia earlier after rebels took control of their country. Turkish and Arabic media says Asma al-Assad had filed for divorce, but a Kremlin spokesperson denied it and also rejected media reports suggesting Assad had been confined to Moscow and his property assets frozen. The rebels reportedly guaranteed the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic institutions in Syria.

# Cricket: Proteas white-ball head coach Rob Walter still believes the team is a title contender in the Champions Cup, despite losing 3-nil in the one-day series against Pakistan. He points out they were without key bowlers due to injuries or resting protocol before the important two-match Test series. Walter does admit South Africa was outplayed in key moments. The Champions Cup, comprising the hosts, Pakistan, and the seven best-placed teams in last year’s World Cup, starts on 19 February.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-56-cents and the euro at 19-rand-29-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-26-cents and Bitcoin trades at 94-thousand-119-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-617-dollars-75-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-50-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The British group Wham! has made chart history, with Last Christmas becoming the first song to be crowned Christmas number one for two years in a row. George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley had to wait 39 years to reach the festive top spot in 2023, an achievement now repeated. Official Charts boss Martin Talbot said Last Christmas was now undeniably established as the British nation’s all-time favourite Christmas song. US pop star Gracie Abrams is second with That’s So True, with Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You in third place.

Stay tuned for more news………….