News 07:00

BULLETIN 9 December 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Fikile Mbalula says the ANC’s electoral decline was not an accident
# A warrant of arrest is issued for one of the Phala Phala accused
# And, the French president says Russia is beginning to feel the impact of Western sanctions

# ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula says the party’s electoral decline was not accidental, but was driven by corruption, state capture, service delivery failures, and economic stagnation. He delivered the party’s mid-term report at the 5th National General Council in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, on Monday. Mbalula says the setback the ANC suffered in the 2024 national and provincial elections was felt more in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng:

# The Bureau for Economic Research says South Africa is showing signs of economic improvement, with growth and rising business confidence. However, problems such as crime, corruption, and red tape remain obstacles. The bureau urges the government to urgently establish an independent anti-corruption body, protect critical infrastructure, and implement reforms in electricity, water, and logistics. It proposes a clear goal of three-percent economic growth, a three-percent budget deficit, and three-percent inflation within three years.

# A stay of arrest warrant has been authorised for one of the accused in the Phala Phala farm burglary case. Ndilinasho David Joseph, who is currently out on ten-thousand-rand bail, failed to appear in the Modimolle Regional Court in Limpopo alongside his two co-accused on Monday. Magistrate Peter Manthate approved the issuing of a warrant of arrest for Ndilinasho, who is reportedly unwell, but its execution will be held over until 13 January next year. The three are charged with housebreaking, theft, and conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal.

# The DA calls for an urgent investigation into Johannesburg’s growing reliance on water tankers since 2023. According to the party, the municipality has failed to get national water grants and relies too much on water tankers, leaving many communities without water. The DA’s Belinda Kayser Echeozonjoku warns that prolonged water outages and heavy reliance on tankers show poor planning and management:

# French president Emmanuel Macron says sanctions imposed in recent months by the European Union and the United States were now significantly affecting Russia’s economy. He met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, British prime minister Keir Starmer, and German chancellor Friedrich Merz at Downing Street in London on Monday. Macron says pressure on Russia has created momentum for coordinated diplomatic engagement:

# Golf: LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil says talks are ongoing with the Official World Golf Ranking board to secure official world golf ranking points for players next year. The Saudi-funded league’s initial bid to have its players earn world ranking points was unanimously rejected in October 2023, due to its 54-hole format. However, from next year it is moving to the more traditional 72-hole tournaments. O’Neil says the decision to change the format is also driven by commercial reality, adding that his immediate priority is the league’s growth and global expansion.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-2-cents and the euro at 19-rand-82-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-69-cents and Bitcoin trades at 90-thousand-172-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-196-dollars-18-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-28-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….