News 11:00

BULLETIN 4th January 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A political analyst says US action against Maduro violates international law
# Eskom targets to recover R105-billion in municipal debt
# And, gold and silver dip after a record-breaking 2025 rally

# Political analyst Oscar van Heerden says the US acted outside international law in capturing Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, he stressed there is no evidence linking Maduro to threats against the US, including drug trafficking, and argues the operation is motivated by oil interests. He called on the international community to uphold legal principles and urged calm in Venezuela:

Meanwhile, RISE Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi has accused former US President Donald Trump of lawlessness and piracy, following attacks in Venezuela and the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro. Zibi alleges US forces targeted Venezuelan oil tankers and fishermen, warning that such actions violate international law. He urged global defenders of democracy to unite, calling on the UN Security Council to act against what he described as dangerous destabilisation:

# The minster of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says Eskom is using multiple strategies to recover more than 100-billion-rand owed by municipalities. The minister told Parliament municipal debt stood at 105-billion-rand as of September 2025. Ramokgopa says Eskom is partnering with defaulting councils through distribution agency agreements to improve billing and revenue collection. Only ten of 71 municipalities are fully compliant under the Treasury’s debt relief programme.

# Gold and silver slipped in the final trading days of 2025, despite recording their strongest annual gains since the 1970s. Gold then rebounded in European trading, the first session of 2026, after a historic year. Gold surged about 63-percent in 2025, while silver gained more than 140-percent. The rally was driven by safe-haven demand, US rate cuts, industrial use in green technology, ongoing geopolitical tensions, and sustained central bank buying, especially in emerging markets.

# The Cape Minstrel Carnival Association is appealing for financial support to continue its legal fight against the City of Cape Town. This comes as the city’s appealed to overturn the Western Cape High Court ruling requiring it to provide an alternative venue for the annual parade. While the city has proposed new dates, the association maintains they conflict with its preferred schedule. The association says this is prolonging a legal battle over the timing and location of the iconic cultural festivities.

# And cricket: Persistent rain over the day and the evening session has led to the SA20 match between the Pretoria Capitals and Durban’s Super Giants in Centurion being washed out last night. The rain stopped for a short while which saw a toss, which the Capitals won and chose to bowl, but just as a play was set to start the rain returned. The match was called off without a ball being bowled. The afternoon’s SA20 clash between the Joburg Super Kings and Sunrisers Eastern Cape at the Wanderers was also abandoned due to rain and lightning.

Stay tuned for more news………….