News 09:00

BULLETIN NEWS AGENCY 16 December 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Jacob Zuma calls for electoral reforms, slams ANC-DA alliance
# Turkey ready to offer military training to Syria if the new administration requests it
# And, cricket: A Protea women’s bowler shines against England on the first day of the 5-day test

# MK Party president Jacob Zuma has urged supporters to demand electoral reforms ahead of the 2026 local polls, alleging vote-rigging in the May national and provincial elections. Zuma emphasised unity and fairness in governance. Meanwhile, at the party’s first anniversary celelbrations at the Moses Madiba stadium in Durban, deputy president John Hlope cautioned against internal divisions and criticised the ANC-DA government of national unity as an unholy alliance:

# The confidential PwC report on Steinhoff’s 2017 collapse will be handed to media outlets this week following a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling. Initially withheld, the report exposes accounting irregularities by Steinhoff’s executives, inflating profits and assets through fictitious transactions. Ibex, formerly Steinhoff, says it has alerted affected individuals, including former employees and business partners, about the disclosure. The company emphasised its legal obligation to comply with the court order.

# Rand Water has restored full pumping capacity at the Zwartkopjes pump station, benefiting Johannesburg areas like Parktown, Berea, and Orlando East. However, maintenance at Eikenhof continues until tofay, affecting Soweto, Randburg, and parts of Johannesburg central. Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo says emergency tankers remain active for critical sites. She says that full recovery of water systems may take up to 14 days:

# The new administration in Syria should be given a chance to govern following their constructive messages. This was said by the Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler. He said Turkey stands ready to provide military training if such help is requested. NATO member Turkey backed the Syrian rebels who toppled President Bashar al-Assad last weekend, ending a 13-year civil war. Turkey reopened its embassy in Damascus on Saturday, two days after its intelligence chief visited the Syrian capital.

# Finally, cricket: The Protea womens’s left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba starred with a four-wicket haul as England declared on 395 for 9 on the opening day of their one-off Test against South Africa at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein yesterday. The Proteas are on an overnight score of 17 without loss with captain Laura Wolvaardt and opening partner Anneke Bosch at the crease, trailing the visitors by 378 runs. For the visitors Nat Sciver-Brunt scored the fastest hundred in women’s Tests, off 96 balls, eclipsing debutant Maia Bouchier, who brought up her maiden century.

Stay tuned for more news………….