News 11:00

BULLETIN 20 December 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cosatu welcomes president Ramaphosa signing the National Road Traffic Amendment Bill
# Fourteen new biometric systems have been installed to improve airport security at OR Tambo
# And rugby: The United Rugby Championship resumes after three weeks this evening

# Cosatu has welcomed president Cyril Ramaphosa’s assenting to the important National Road Traffic Amendment Bill. Spokesperson Matthew Parks says every year 14-thousand people on average die unnecessarily on South Africa’s roads due to reckless driving. He says 40-percent of road accidents are related to alcohol consumption, with others due to unroadworthy vehicles or people who never should have received a driver’s licence:

# The Border Management Authority has installed 14 new biometric systems at OR Tambo International in Gauteng to strengthen airport security, streamline immigration processes, and support biosecurity and agricultural inspections. These upgrades aim to handle increased passenger numbers during the festive season while ensuring efficient screening to prevent the import of harmful agricultural products and environmental risks. The authority’s commissioner, Michael Masiapato, told the media four systems are already operational:

# The ANC Youth League in Gauteng says the lack of transparency around the 500-million-rand to support small businesses, including spaza shops, undermines public confidence. The fund will be managed by the Departments of Trade, industry, and Competition, and of Small Business Development. The league says to date, there has been no clarity on the allocation process or the beneficiaries. It adds that the lack of transparency raises serious concerns about equitable resource distribution.

# Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza by depriving them of adequate water supplies. In its new report, it says Israel has intentionally damaged infrastructure, including solar panels powering treatment plants, a reservoir, and a spare parts warehouse, while also blocking fuel for generators. Meanwhile, the US State Department’s acting spokesperson, Vedant Patel, says they disagree with the report’s findings but continue to press Israel on the issue:

# Rugby: The United Rugby Championship season resumes after a three-week hiatus when Ulster hosts Munster in an all-Irish clash tonight. Tomorrow the four South African teams will take on each other in two derbies – the Stormers against the Lions in Cape Town, and the Sharks and the Bulls in Durban. The Bulls are currently third on the log behind Leinster and defending champions Glasgow Warriors. The Lions are fifth, the Sharks sixth and the Stormers 13th after only two victories in six outings.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-35-cents and the euro at 19-rand-4-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-94-cents and Bitcoin trades at 97-thousand-309-dollars-9-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-604-dollars-2-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-56-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….