News 18:00

BULLETIN 10 December 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# FlySafair credits passengers for delayed flights due to the fuel system failure at OR Tambo International Airport
# Home Affairs extends its operating hours for the festive season
# And tennis: Matteo Berrettini is appointed as tennis ambassador to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund

# FlySafair has credited passengers affected by a fuel system failure at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng, which caused significant flight delays for over three hours yesterday. The airline has asked the Airports Company South Africa for a refund for passenger charges due to the disruption. While awaiting a response, FlySafair is offering affected customers travel vouchers for future flights. Passengers will receive their vouchers via email within 24-hours. The airline assures customers it is committed to maintaining high service standards.

# The Department of Home Affairs is extending its operating hours by two hours daily from today until 20 December. Offices will now close at 6 pm instead of 4 pm to help clients over the festive period. The extended hours will also apply from 2 to 5 January. Minister Leon Schreiber says these extended hours are part of the department’s efforts to help citizens get their documents in time for the holidays:

# South Africa’s manufacturing production rose by 0.8-percent in October, with the biggest growth in the petroleum, chemicals, and food sectors. However, the motor vehicle sector dropped by 16.6-percent. Statistics South Africa’s Nicolai Claassen says manufacturing sales went up by 2.3-percent from September, but fell by 1.2-percent over the last three months, with the motor vehicle sector contributing to the decline:

# The DA has highlighted the urgent need for intervention in prisons as they face a contraband crisis. The party’s Kabelo Kgobisa-Ngcabawith says nearly one-thousand-kilograms of drugs, 41-thousand cell phones, and thousands of weapons have been seized in 12 months. She has urged Correctional Services minister Pieter Groenewald to escalate the issue to cabinet to resolve porous facilities, inadequate security, and criminal activities orchestrated from prisons:

# Tennis: Italian player Matteo Berrettini had been announced as tennis ambassador to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund with the task to help prepare the next generation of players and elevate the sport globally. The sovereign wealth fund extended its reach to the sport lately, becoming the official naming partner of the men’s and women’s world rankings, and partnering several tournaments. Reuters reports Spanish great Rafael Nadal, who retired recently, was appointed in a similar role at the Saudi Tennis Federation earlier this year.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-87-cents and the euro at 18-rand-81-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-80-cents and Bitcoin trades at 97-thousand-913-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-683-dollars-2-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-2-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….