SABCNews PM Headlines @21H00 | 09 January 2025

* Veld fires, exacerbated by dry and windy conditions, have destroyed thousands of hectares of vegetation in the Eastern and Western Cape. The South African Weather Service has issued a red veld fire warning for several areas in the Eastern Cape, while the Western Cape's Overstrand Municipality has declared a "Code Red" status.
* Ahead of January 8 statement celebrations, ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address at the party's 114th Anniversary Gala Dinner event, held at the Sun City Superbowl, in the North West province.
* Matric examination quality assurer, Umalusi, has given the green light for the release of the 2025 matric exam results. This, as the Department of Basic Education revealed that the number of matric candidates who participated in group copying during the 2025 National Senior Certificate Final Exams, has doubled from the previous year.
* Leo Brent Bozell the third, has been sworn in as U.S. Ambassador-Designate to South Africa. Bozell promised in his October confirmation hearing, to communicate Washington's objections to what he called, South Africa's "Geo-strategic drift from non-alignment".
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