News 07:00

BULLETIN 30 December 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Referendum Party says South Africa should recognise Somaliland as an independent state
# A fuel price relief kicks off 2026 on a high note
# And rugby: Wessel Roux is the new forwards coach of the Lions

# The Referendum Party and the Cape Independence Advocacy Group call on the South African government to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent state. The party’s Phil Craig argues that international law guarantees the right to self-determination and says Somaliland has functioned independently since 1991. The party accuses South Africa of inconsistency in supporting self-determination selectively and urges recognition in line with international legal principles:

# Motorists are set for some relief at the fuel pumps in January, driven by a stronger rand and lower global oil prices easing costs for households and businesses. Data from the Central Energy Fund projects notable fuel price drops as 93-octane petrol is set to fall by 51-cents-per-litre, while 95-octane could decrease by 56-cents-a litre. Diesel is expected to fall sharply by between one-rand-26-cents and one-rand-38-cents a litre, while illuminating paraffin may decrease by around one-rand. The new prices take effect next week.

# The Western Cape Mobility MEC Isaac Silekuhas called for heightened vigilance on the roads as 27 crashes and 34 fatalities were recorded between 22 and 28 December. Pedestrians accounted for 14 deaths. The department’s spokesperson Maxine Bezuidenhout says traffic officers made 103 arrests, most for drunk driving, and recorded over three hundred speeding offences stating that many of the deaths were preventable. She urges road users to avoid alcohol, slow down and protect vulnerable pedestrians:

# Two popular leaders have formed an alliance ahead of March parliamentary elections in Nepal that will challenge older parties. Rapper turned-Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, known as Balen, a popular elected official, joined the national independent party, led by a former TV host-turned politician Rabi Lamichhane on Sunday. Under the agreement the 35-year old Balen will become prime minister if the alliance wins the elections while Lamichhane will remain the party chief. Both have vowed to address the demands raised during the “Gen Z” protests against widespread corruption in September in which 77 people were killed.

# Rugby: The Lions have appointed former Springbok prop Wessel Roux as the new forwards coach. He replaces Barend Pieterse, who is joining the Junior Boks management team in January. Roux joined the Lions in 2016 as a coach and served as head coach and forwards coach across all junior teams at the union for nearly a decade. The Lions will continue their bid to secure an elusive knock-out spot in the United Rugby Championship when they face a rejuvenated Sharks side under interim head coach JP Pietersen in Durban on Saturday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-67-cents and the euro at 19-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-53-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-128-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-345-dollars-61-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-9-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….