News 17:00

BULLETIN 13 January 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Detectives are investigating a Gqeberha mass shooting
# Umalusi confirms the integrity of the 2024 matric results after a standardisation process
# And Motorsport: It was almost a 1,2,3 for South Africa in stage 8 of the Dakar Rally

# Eastern Cape provincial detectives are investigating six counts of murder and attempted murder after a fatal shooting in Kani Street, Veeplaas, Gqeberha. Police discovered six men, aged 21 to 27, dead, and a 21-year-old woman injured last night. Police spokesperson Siphokazi Mawisa says the victims were attacked by unknown suspects, the motive remains unclear, and no arrests have been made:

# Quality assurance body Umalusi has officially approved the 2024 national senior certificate and independent examinations board results. A total of over one-million candidates participated in the national examinations. Basic Education minister, Siviwe Gwarube, is set to announce the matric results this evening. Umalusi’s chairperson Yunus Ballim confirmed that the results meet the required standards for credibility and integrity:

# Giwusa president Mametlwe Sebei estimates the rescue of trapped Stilfontein illegal miners could take two to three weeks. Speaking at a Mining Affected Communities United in Action briefing, Sebei confirmed additional food and water supplies have been provided to sustain the trapped miners during the operation:

# Germany is taking steps to limit the potential spread of foot-and-mouth disease, as the outbreak of the virus threatened to hit the country’s agricultural exports. South Korea and Mexico had told Berlin they would halt pork imports from Germany while the cases were being contained. Three cases of foot-and-mouth were reported in water buffalo on a farm near Berlin on Friday, the first reported incidence of the virus in Germany since 1988.

# Motorsport: South African Henk Lategan in his Toyota consolidated his lead atop the driver standings of the Dakar Rally by winning the eighth stage today. The 30-year-old is in his fourth Dakar outing. He extended his lead over home hope Yazeed al-Rajhi to 5-minutes-41-seconds in the general classification. Despite a two-minute penalty for speeding on the stage, Lategan finished ahead of compatriot Guy Botterill, also in a Toyota. France’s Mathieu Serradori in his Century prevented an all-South African podium by finishing third, five seconds ahead of Brian Baragwanath.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-12-cents and the euro at 19-rand-51-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-20-cents and Bitcoin trades at 91-thousand-528-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-669-dollars-83-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 80-dollars-9-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….