News 16:00

BULLETIN NEWS AGENCY 24 December 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Presidency urges South Africans to celebrate responsibly this festive season
# The number of trucks being processed at the Lebombo port of entry has slowed down
# And, soccer: South Africa’s blind soccer team returns after competing in the first BRICS tournament in Russia

# The Presidency has called on South Africans to celebrate responsibly during the festive season. Deputy president Paul Mashatile has warned against alcohol and substance abuse, emphasising its role in road accidents and family conflicts. Mashatile urged citizens not to drink and drive, and to remember grieving families. He also called on South Africans to extend kindness to the less fortunate, promoting compassion and safe festivities:

Mashatile has also urged South Africans to unite against gender-based violence and femicide. Delivering his Christmas message, he called on more men to participate in the Better Man for Tomorrow campaign against gender-based violence and femicide. Mashatile also emphasises that while progress is being made in fighting HIV and Aids, concerns remain about the low uptake of antiretroviral treatment, especially among men.

Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane has meanwhile issued a heartfelt plea to motorists to exercise extreme caution on the roads due to a disturbing rise in road accident fatalities, with the current death toll in the province approaching 100. Provincial spokesperson Khuselwa Rantjie says the alarming increase in road accidents is a devastating trend and stresses it is the collective responsibility of everyone to act swiftly to prevent further loss of life.

# The Border Management Authority has confirmed that the number of trucks being processed at the Lebombo port of entry in Mpumalanga has slowed down. BMA commissioner Mike Masiapato says many truck drivers fear possible unrest after Mozambique’s Constitutional Council declared Frelimo victorious in the October elections. The commissioner told SABC News alternate routes are being assessed to mitigate cargo-targeted protest threats:

# Soccer: The South African Blind Soccer team has returned home after competing in their first BRICS tournament in Moscow, Russia. Corinthians Africa arrived at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng. In addition to gaining valuable experience, the team’s coach, Jack Msibi, told SABC News they won several matches against professional teams from across the globe:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-61-cents and the euro at 19-rand-34-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-32-cents and Bitcoin trades at 94-thousand-101-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-614-dollars-90-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-62-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….