News 14:00

BULLETIN 7 January 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Road Traffic Management Corporation calls for caution on the roads
# The MK Party is concerned about the opening of the rail network to third-party operators
# And Rugby: An American player and social media sensation has big plans for the women’s game

# The Road Traffic Management Corporation has reiterated its calls to motorists to exercise extreme caution when driving in rainy conditions. This follows a multi vehicle collision that claimed 18 lives on the N3 between Van Reenen and Tugela Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal. Corporation spokesperson Simon Zwane says members of the National Traffic Police and the police worked the whole night to clear the scene and provide assistance to the affect road users:

# The MK Party says it concerned about the publication of the Transnet Network Statement, a move aimed at opening South Africa’s rail network to third party operators. The party’s Lucky Montana says the MK Party has reaffirmed its opposition to the rail privatisation programme championed by the DA and ANC coalition. He says it is alarming that this decision comes at a time when rail freight volumes have plummeted to their lowest levels in decades:
 

# Eskom is moving forward with plans to upgrade its customer care and billing system, which has been running on an unsupported version since 2018. The upgrade aims to address security vulnerabilities, integration issues, and reporting challenges. Eskom also seeks to improve data management and bill display, enhancing overall system reliability and performance. The power utility says the update will help it meet evolving needs in its distribution business and improve revenue management capabilities.

# North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said a new hypersonic missile system tested this week would help deter the country’s Pacific rivals. The test came two weeks before the inauguration of US president-elect Donald Trump, and coincided with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to the South. State media reports the use of a “new compound of carbon fibre” in the missile’s engine. Experts warned this could allow Pyongyang to hit further targets with technology to which only the United States, Russia and China currently have access.

# Rugby: American social media sensation Ilona Maher says she loves being a rugby superstar but hopes to raise the profile of fellow players in the women’s game. The versatile American back, who won Olympic rugby sevens bronze at the 2024 Paris Games, has more than eight million followers across Instagram and TikTok, making her the world’s most followed rugby player. The 28-year-old, who has signed a three-month contract with English women’s Premiership side Bristol, was also a runner-up in the most recent series of US television show Dancing With The Stars.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-51-cents and the euro at 19-rand-31-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-26-cents and Bitcoin trades at 101-thousand-455-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-643-dollars-15-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-37-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….