News 18:00

BULLETIN 5 December 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa hails Presidential Climate Commission for elevating South Africa’s global climate role
# The GOOD Party says the Western Cape Education Department is in crisis
# And, the Gauteng Transport MEC calls for responsible road behaviour over the festive season

# President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the Presidential Climate Commission for boosting South Africa’s profile in global climate forums. He cited its evidence-based recommendations, inclusive processes, and international engagements. Speaking at the 20th Ordinary Session in Pretoria, Ramaphosa praised the Commission’s role in advancing the Just Transition, shaping climate finance discussions, and guiding policies like the Just Energy Transition Plan 2023–2027. He emphasised South Africa’s commitment to ambitious climate action:

# The GOOD Party says the Western Education Department is unable to stabilise its budget and funding for compensation of employees. Finance MEC, Deidre Baartman, delivered the Western Cape Government’s Medium Term Budget Policy Statement and Adjustment Budget this week. GOOD’s secretary general, Brett Herron, says 736.6-million-rand has been taken out of the education budget, including 270-million-rand from the schools’ infrastructure development budget.

# Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, is urging road users to make safer choices and drive this festive season responsibly. She, together with the national Transport minister, Barbara Creecy, launched the Gauteng Festive Season Road Safety Campaign in Diepsloot yesterday. The campaign is under the banner, E Thoma Ka Wena! It Starts With You. The department’s spokesperson, Lesiba Mpya, says a firm warning is being issued to lawbreakers:

# Fighting raged in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Congolese and Rwandan leaders in Washington to sign new deals aimed at ending years of conflict in a region rich in minerals. Congo’s president Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame on Thursday reaffirmed commitments to a US-brokered deal reached in June to stabilise the vast country and open the way for more Western mining investment. On the ground however, fierce fighting continued with a Congolese army spokesman saying clashes were ongoing and Rwandan forces were bombing.

# The Stormers kick off their Champions Cup campaign tonight with a formidable assignment against Bayonne in France. The unbeaten United Rugby Championship log leader faces a stern test against the Top 14 side boasting a flawless home record this season. Coach John Dobson has rotated his squad, including a debut for prop Ntuthuko Mchunu. The Capetonians seek a vital away win to set the tone in a fiercely competitive Pool 3. An intense aerial battle is expected. Kick-off is at 10 pm, South African time.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-93-cents and the euro at 19-rand-73-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-60-cents and Bitcoin trades at 90-thousand-726-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-237-dollars-27-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-4-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….