News Bulletin of 12 December 2025, 5pm

The SPAR Carols By Candlelight Presented By Jacaranda FM has raised over R927,000 for charity, spreading festive cheer across South Africa.
The event took place on 4 December at the SunBet Arena in Menlyn, selling more than 7,000 tickets and drawing over 10,000 online viewers.
Funds helped provide 1,200 Santa Shoeboxes and R20,000 each to 13 children’s homes through Good Morning Angels, while nearly 200 staff members at partner organisations received SPAR hampers.
The initiative reached 24 communities across four provinces.

eThekwini Municipality will invest R82.7 million over five years to host the Africa Travel Indaba, starting in May 2026. The city says the event will drive economic growth, create jobs, and promote Durban as a leading tourism destination.
Officials highlighted that the trade show offers local businesses and community tourism organisations a platform to showcase their offerings to international delegates.
The Indaba also allows Durban to engage with key industry decision-makers and stay ahead of global tourism trends.
Mayor Cyril Xaba said the event strengthens Durban’s position as Southern Africa’s tourism hub.

Cocoa prices have dropped dramatically this year, falling by almost half since January and sitting well below last year’s record highs.
The sharp decline follows an intense period of soaring costs that pushed chocolate prices up across the world.
Agricultural experts say the turnaround is encouraging for both shoppers and manufacturers, with the festive season and Valentine’s rush on the way.
They note that the current trend creates real room for better value on chocolate products.
While the market remains watchful of global production and export factors, the overall outlook is far more upbeat, with analysts saying cheaper treats are now a realistic expectation.