News 09:00

BULLETIN 1 December 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC rejects claims of plots to remove president Cyril Ramaphosa
# A state of emergency is declared in Sri Lanka, with more than 300 cyclone-related deaths
# And golf: Deon Germishuys is victorious at the Fitch & Leedes PGA Championship

# The ANC has rejected what it says are unfounded and sensationalist claims published in the Sunday World, which falsely depict a divided leadership with plots to remove president Cyril Ramaphosa. Deputy ministers Mondli Gungubele and Joe Phaahla are accused of leading the plot to oust Ramaphosa. The ANC says these fabricated stories are deliberately designed to manufacture divisions where none exist. The party adds that it won’t be distracted from its core mission of renewal, which is rooted in unity, service to citizens, and strengthening ethical and accountable democratic governance.

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile has called on parliaments across the Southern African Development Community to strengthen legislation, oversight, and public participation in response to the rising toll of climate change. He addressed the 58th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum on Sunday. Mashatile stated that climate change impacts such as persistent droughts, extreme weather events, including floods and cyclones, land degradation, and shifting rainfall patterns profoundly undermine sustainable development in SADC, particularly affecting women and youth:

# The Freedom Front Plus has welcomed the Ekurhuleni Metro Council’s decision to formally revoke the controversial Tariff A.2 basic charge. The levy imposed a fixed monthly electricity charge on households, pensioners, and low-consumption users. FF Plus’ Jennifer Glover says from the moment the tariff was introduced, they warned that it was unaffordable, that public participation had been inadequate, and that it posed serious regulatory and financial risks:

# The government in Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency following floods and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah, which has claimed the lives of 334 people. More than 200 people are missing. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the destruction is so severe that estimates for reconstruction are staggering. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall, which has unleashed widespread flooding and landslides in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, has killed more than 700 people. Experts say the climate crisis has affected storm patterns, including the duration and intensity of the monsoon season.

# Golf: South Africa’s Deon Germishuys claimed his third Sunshine Tour title by winning the Fitch & Leedes PGA Championship at St Francis Links in the Eastern Cape. With a final round of 69, he won South Africa’s second-oldest professional golf tournament on 14 under par, one stroke clear of compatriots Samuel Simpson and Hennie du Plessis. Germishuys, who lost his DP World Tour card, says this win means a lot to him:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-12-cents and the euro at 19-rand-86-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-65-cents and Bitcoin trades at 85-thousand-942-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-239-dollars-29-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-22-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….