News 07:00

BULLETIN 29 December 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The EFF rejects Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as an independent state
# The SACP says the US military in the Middle East has caused historical setbacks
# And severe weather conditions impact Eskom networks nationwide

# The EFF has joined the global community in rejecting and condemning Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as an independent state. The party says this is a ploy to destabilise Somalia to further Israeli influence and control in strategic positions in Africa and by consequence over the Middle-East. The EFF says Israel is in search of a nation where it will resettle the Palestinian population following its genocide and recent pronouncement of the annexation of 19 new settlements on the West Bank.

# The South African Communist Party says the presence of the US military in the Middle East has, over time, caused historical setbacks for the totality of the region and facilitated the most constant conflicts, including an active genocide in Palestine. SACP spokesperson, Mbulelo Mandlana, says if this intervention continues unabated, it is likely that this would be the fate of West Africa and therefore the African continent:

# Eskom says ongoing adverse weather, persisting daily through the festive season, has led to a sharp increase in faults across its supply areas nationwide. Spokesperson Daphne Mokwena says while major disruptions in the Eastern Cape have largely been addressed, the KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Free State provinces remain severely affected. She says Eskom teams are on the ground repairing damaged infrastructure to restore supply in affected communities, including Tzaneen and Mashashane in Limpopo:

# Rugby: Springbok assistant coaches Felix Jones and Jerry Flannery, SA Rugby Mobi-Unit coach Duane Vermeulen, and head of athletic performance Andy Edwards will provide short-term support to the Bulls. This as the club is seeking to fill out coaching voids after parting ways with assistant coaches Chris Rossouw and Andries Bekker. SA Rugby says the Bok coaches will engage with the Bulls on a limited basis and share national coaching resources when requested. Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says the support reflects the existing working relationship between the Boks and the franchises.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-66-cents and the euro at 19-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-50-cents and Bitcoin trades at 88-thousand-230-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-498-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 60-dollars-32-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The ANC has paid tribute to former deputy minister of Transport and Water and Sanitation, Dikeledi Magadzi, who passed away on Sunday morning. She also previously served as an ANC national executive committee member and an MEC in Limpopo, holding portfolios in Public Works, Agriculture, Health, and Safety and Security. The ANC says Magadzi was a committed leader and seasoned cadre who served the movement and the democratic state with dedication and discipline. It adds that she brought a strong sense of public service and revolutionary commitment to every responsibility entrusted to her.

Stay tuned for more news………….