News 08:00

BULLETIN 17 December 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Presidency says minister Malatsi is working within the law concerning Starlink
# RISE Mzansi says real nation-building is being undermined
# And Donald Trump is blocking all oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela

# The Presidency says telecommunications regulator ICASA should be allowed time to independently judge minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi’s policy directive. The minister gazetted a policy directive instructing ICASA to permit foreign investors to operate without being required to cede 30-percent equity. This is seen as a way to clear a path for Elon Musk’s Starlink to operate in the country without fully complying with B-BBEE requirements. Presidency spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says Malatsi is working within the law:

# RISE Mzansi says the work of real nation-building is undermined by the fact that millions of South Africans continue to be excluded from meaningfully benefiting from the national economy. It states that this is due to poor governance, corruption, a lack of vision, and a lack of political will to create a just society. RISE Mzansi’s national spokesperson, Mabine Seabe, says to build a nation and national identity, citizens need to demand several things from those elected to serve:

# The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness says measles outbreaks are increasing across the province, with areas including Khayelitsha, Mfuleni, Eerste River, Somerset West, Mitchells Plain, and Citrusdal affected. Spokesperson Monique Johnstone says diphtheria cases are also being managed in parts of the Cape Metro. Johnstone attributes the surge to declining childhood vaccination rates. She confirmed that clinics will remain open during the festive season, offering free and catch-up vaccinations to protect children and communities.

# US president Donald Trump says he is ordering a complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela. In a post on Truth Social, he accused Venezuela of stealing US assets, such as oil and land. He also accused Nicolás Maduro’s government of using oil from stolen oil fields to finance itself, terrorism, drug smuggling, human trafficking, kidnapping, and murder. Since September, the US military has killed at least 90 people in strikes on boats it has alleged were carrying fentanyl and other illegal drugs to America.

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana claimed a 1-0 victory in a friendly match against Ghana at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto. The encounter was South Africa’s last game before the team departs for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco today. The only goal of the match came in the 57th minute through Sipho Mbule. Coach Hugo Broos was not impressed by his team’s performance:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-75-cents and the euro at 19-rand-66-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-46-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-424-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-317-dollars-52-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 59-dollars-33-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….