News 07:00

BULLETIN 24 December 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Cachalia says the South African Police Service is not in crisis
# The Competition Tribunal approves the consent order against We Buy Cars
# And rugby: Siya Kolisi says it has been difficult to leave the Sharks

# Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia says the South African Police Service is not in crisis despite ongoing challenges. Speaking during KwaZulu-Natal’s festive season operations, he praised officers for their daily work protecting communities. Cachalia added that the Madlanga Commission will identify areas for reform, including efficiency, capability, and accountability. He emphasised that South Africa has built a constitutional police service, and the commission’s findings will further strengthen policing for the future:

# KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says he suspects external influence behind the suspended Police minister Senzo Mchunu’s political killings task team disbandment letter. Speaking in KwaZulu-Natal, Mkhwanazi praised the progress at the Madlanga Commission and said he will appear for Phase 3 if summoned. He stressed that directives must flow through proper channels, warning against bypassing the chain of command, which he says would create operational dysfunction in policing.

# The National Consumer Tribunal has confirmed a settlement between the National Consumer Commission and We Buy Cars, making it a consent order under the Consumer Protection Act. Tribunal spokesperson Phetho Ntaba says WBC will pay a 2.5-million-rand fine and refund over 3.4-million rand to 31 consumers. She says the company will also revise its terms, roll out a consumer awareness programme, and create 300 jobs over five years:

# Rugby: Springbok captain Siya Kolisi says deciding to leave the Sharks has been tough. Five years after leaving the Stormers amid the collapse of the union, the 34-year-old will return to the club, where he made his name, in 2026. The Sharks, who paid a 17-million-rand fee to release Kolisi from French club Racing 92, were reluctant to lose such a marquee signing, but circumstances appear to have shifted. Kolisi says he wants to be closer to his school-going children:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-66-cents and the euro at 19-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-51-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-525-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-516-dollars-86-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-84-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Pan South African Language Board, in partnership with Focal Points, has named “G20” as South Africa’s Word of the Year 2025, reflecting the country’s hosting of the G20 summit. The social media word of the year is “Valid“, popular among Gen Z. The South African Sign Language sign of the year is the SASL sign for “I Love You,” highlighting cultural and social trends.

Stay tuned for more news………….