News 09:00

BULLETIN 27 December 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A SANDF member died, and another is missing as their vehicle is swept away at Komatipoort
# Over 100 households suffered damage following the destructive storms in KwaZulu-Natal
# And cricket: England is victorious in the 4th Ashes test

# The body of one South African National Defence Force member has been recovered, and another is still missing after they were swept from their vehicle on Christmas Day while they were driving in Macadamia near Komatipoort, Mpumalanga. SANDF spokesperson Mpho Mathebula states that while conducting routine patrol duties, they attempted to cross a heavily flooded river due to recent weather conditions. She says an extensive search and rescue operation for one missing soldier is currently underway:

# Seven people have been killed and one injured when two sedans collided head-on on the N4 toll Road between Machadodorp and Belfast in Mpumalanga early this morning. The provincial Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison spokesperson,  Moeti Mmusi, says the cause is still under investigation, but preliminary indications point to dangerous overtaking and excessive speed as possible factors:

# The National Union of Mineworkers is calling on the government to review the unbundling process and the reliance on Independent Power Producers that the union says drain Eskom’s resources. The Pretoria High Court rejected the 54-billion-rand settlement between Eskom and the National Energy Regulator, following a successful legal challenge by AfriForum. NUM spokesperson, Khangela Baloyi, says the NUM views the legal challenge as an unpatriotic and counter-revolutionary act designed to destabilize the national utility:

# KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thulasizwe Buthelezi says a total of 125 households were damaged in the Amajuba and Umzinyathi Districts following a trail of destruction left by severe thunderstorms. The department’s spokesperson, Senzelwe Mzila, says a violent weather system characterised by heavy rains, large hail, and gale-force winds swept through the region yesterday. He says over 50 houses were completely destroyed:

# A new study by energy think tank Ember Energy has revealed that between January and October this year, electric vehicles have made more than a quarter of global new car sales. This compared to less than 3-percent in 2019. Electricity and Data analyst Euan Graham says 39 countries have reached an EV sales share larger than 10-percent in 2025, a third of which are outside Europe. In 2019, there were only four countries that had reached this milestone, all within Europe. Notably, China reached over 50-percent EV sales share for the first time this year.

# And cricket: In a stunning turnaround at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds, England have won the fourth Ashes Test by five wickets, chasing down a target of 175 to secure their first victory of the series. After the early wobble that saw them at 114/5, Joe Root (34) and Harry Brook (41) provided the necessary calm and aggression to guide England home. The winning runs were struck in the final session of Day 2, bringing an end to a match that saw 35 wickets fall in just two days of play. Australia won all three previous Ashes tests against England.

Stay tuned for more news………….