News 07:00

BULLETIN 4 December 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Simelane is moved from Justice and Constitutional Development to Human Settlements
# Paul Mashatile’s office clarifies a gift his wife received from Louis Liebenberg
# And the Tourism sector gears up for the G20 Presidency

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has changed his cabinet, moving Justice and Constitutional Development minister Thembi Simelane to Human Settlements. Human Settlements minister Mmamoloko Kubayi will replace her. Simelane has been under pressure following revelations that she received a loan from VBS-linked Gundo Wealth Solutions in 2016 while she was Polokwane mayor. Deputy minister of Labour and Employment Phumzile Mgcina is now the deputy minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, swapping positions with Judith Nemadzinga-Tshabalala, who has been appointed the deputy minister of Employment and Labour.

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile’s office has confirmed that his wife Humile was given an unsolicited gift of a precious stone by alleged diamond scheme fraudster Louis Liebenberg. The head of the office Mduduzi Mbada engaged professionals to verify the stone’s authenticity and value for purposes of declaring it in Parliament. After allegations surfaced against Liebenberg, Mbada decided that the gift be returned. Mashatile’s office says arrangements are currently underway to return the gift.

# Tourism Business Council CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa says South Africa is poised to shine after it accepted the G20 presidency for 2025. Strengthened market positioning is boosting international conventions, including the 2025 G20 Summit, driving growth in business and leisure tourism. He calls for improved safety to attract more visitors and sustain the nation’s tourism momentum:

# Former Tubular Construction CEO Antonio Trindade has been declared unfit to stand trial following a medical assessment at the Sterkfontein Hospital. He is accused in connection with a 1.4-billion-rand upgrade to Kusile Power Station, for which Tubular Construction received the contract. He is accused alongside former Eskom bosses Frans Hlakudi and Abram Masango, businessman Maphoko Kgomoeswana, and former Tubular advisor Michael Lomas. Investigating Directorate Against Corruption’s spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, says the Gauteng High Court will receive an update on Trindade’s health next year:

# South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law, accusing the opposition of plotting insurgency. This led to protests outside Parliament. He described martial law as a necessary measure to eradicate shameless pro-North anti-state forces. Soon after the announcement, lawmakers voted to block the martial law decree, with 190 of the 300 members of Parliament voting to overturn the measure. National Assembly chairperson, Woo Won-sik, says the emergency martial law declaration is invalid and citizens should rest easy that lawmakers will defend democracy.

# Motorsport: Female fans are driving a surge in support for Formula One in the Middle East, according to data published by Nielsen Sports. Women are also the fastest growing demographic globally. Four races take place in the Gulf every year, including this coming weekend’s final Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi. The figures show female fans’ interest in the sport increased by 11-persent in Saudi Arabia since a year ago, with the biggest growth in the age bracket 50- to 69. Forty-one-percent of F1 fans are female.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-13-cents and the euro at 19-rand-5-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 96-thousand-641-dollar-17-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-640-dollars-68-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-68-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….