News 09:00

BULLETIN 1 December 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Party marks its first anniversary with bold ambitions
# The Reserve Bank flags rising financial stress increase on households and SMMEs
# And cricket: The Proteas celebrate victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test

# The MK Party, founded by former president Jacob Zuma, celebrated its first anniversary in Ekurhuleni. The party campaigned in the 2024 general elections and is the official opposition. Secretary-general Floyd Shivambu said the party is optimistic about securing a two-thirds majority in the 2026 local government elections. He emphasised the party’s aim to unite progressive forces:

# The Reserve Bank’s latest Financial Stability Review reveals growing financial stress among households and small-to-medium enterprises. High interest rates, ageing global conflicts, infrastructure failures, and South Africa’s graylist status contribute to the strain. Reserve Bank’s head of financial stability department Nicola Brink, says non-performing loans surged from 257-billion-rand in March 2023 to 304-billion-rand in July 2024:

# The Cape Winelands District Municipality’s Fire Services report significant progress overnight in battling a fire on Paarl mountain. Cooler temperatures and reduced winds aided containment efforts, but hot spots and active fire lines persist. Spokesperson Jo-Anne Otto says that aerial and ground crews remain deployed, with flare-ups likely due to warm weather and vegetation. She confirmed that teams continue firefighting and mopping-up operations today:

# The president of Namibia’s Independent Patriots for Change party, Panduleni Itula, says the opposition will not “under any circumstances” recognise the outcome of the 2024 presidential and national assembly elections, regardless of its outcome. He was speaking on the final day of voting yesterday. Itula, whose party is hoping to end 34 years of rule by SWAPO, says the rule of law has been “grossly violated”. The IPC will seek to have the election results nullified and advocate for Namibians to get another change to vote.

# And, cricket: South Africa had to overcome determined resistance from Sri Lanka’s batsmen before winning the first Test by 233 runs at Kingsmead on the fourth day yesterday. Set a massive 516 runs to win, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 282. Left-arm fast bowler Marco Jansen, the destroyer in Sri Lanka’s record-low first innings of 42, took four for 73 to finish with match figures of 11 wickets for 86. In contrast with the first innings, the tourists made the South Africans work for their wickets yesterday. The second Test against Sri Lanka starts on Thursday in Gqeberha.

Stay tuned for more news………….