News 09:00

BULLETIN 14 December 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Preliminary investigations will commence following the collapse of the Verulam Temple
# Roads turned deadly with multiple fatal crashes this weekend
# And in Rugby: The Stormers maintain their unbeaten season with a 42-21 victory over La Rochelle

# The Mayor of eThekwini, Cyril Xaba praised the joint efforts of KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and National Disaster Management, for their continued support in rescue efforts of workers trapped at the Verulam collapsed temple. Four bodies have been recovered. Preliminary reports indicate the structure had no approved building plans, rendering it illegal. He called for community support as preliminary investigations commence:

# Several fatal accidents have been recorded this weekend. A three-month-old baby died in a three-vehicle collision on the N2 at the Kei Cuttings, Eastern Cape, with four others sustaining minor injuries. Meanwhile, Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesperson Simon Zwane confirmed seven people, including a baby, were killed in a head-on collision on the N12 between Kimberley and Warrenton, Northern Cape. Five others died in a similar crash near Fochville, Gauteng:

# The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania is holding its national elective conference in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, to elect new leadership and review party policies. Secretary-General Apa Pooe told SABC News that the focus is on stability, continuity, and growth, stressing that the PAC has resolved internal disputes and moved beyond factions. He adds the party is modernising its constitution, repackaging its message, and aiming for stronger representation in future elections:

# The City of Cape Town is rolling out the new Computerised Learner’s Licence Testing system across its 18 driving licence testing centres. The digital screens will replace manual booklet tests, speeding up completion and results. Four centres have been installed, with Brackenfell and Elsies River going live on Monday. The phased rollout should be completed by mid-February 2026. Officials say the system will curb corruption, support all eleven languages, aid hearing-impaired applicants and remain operational during power outages.

# More than 400 American law enforcement personnel were deployed on Saturday as police sought the suspect in a shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island. Two students were killed and another nine people wounded. The private university remained in lockdown several hours after a suspect with a firearm entered a building where students were taking exams. Streets around the campus were packed with emergency vehicles hours after the shooting and security was heightened around the city, as law enforcement agencies continued their manhunt for a male possibly in his 30s.

# And in Rugby: The Stormers maintained their unbeaten record for the season by defeating two-time winners La Rochelle 42-21 in their Champions Cup clash in Gqeberha. The French side decided to play 15 academy players in the fixture, and despite the expectation that the Stormers would run riot, it was not a comfortable win for John Dobson’s men. The Stormers’ points came from two tries by Dylan Maart, and one each by Leolin Zas, Andre-Hugo Venter, Warrick Gelant and Marcel Theunissen, with the rest from the boot of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. La Rochelle scored three converted tries.

Stay tuned for more news………….