News 11:00

BULLETIN 10 December 10 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The African Transformation Movement calls for a combined national DNA index
# Operations at the Lebombo border post are suspended again
# And Pretty Yende describes performing at the Notre Dame as a divine moment

# The African Transformation Movement says it stands united in calling for the urgent establishment and implementation of a combined national DNA index system. Over 5.4-million case dockets were closed without resolution between 2018 and ’23. These include 61-thousand-740 rape cases, averaging approximately 974 unresolved cases each month. ATM’s Zama Ntshona says each day, around 32 victims are denied the justice they deserve:

# The Human Sciences Research Council says 62-percent of the general public believes that efforts by government to combat corruption are not effective. The council released the findings of its multi-year study which found that bribe solicitation by public officials had intensified between 2006 and ’23. The council says 84-percent of the populace believes that most politicians are involved in corrupt behaviour. It adds that the bulk of the public believes that the law favours the rich and powerful.

# The Border Management Authority has temporarily suspended general cargo processing and passenger movements at the Lebombo port of entry due to fresh protests on the Mozambican side. The border has been operating intermittently since October following post-election unrest in the neighbouring country. The BMA’s acting commissioner, Jane Thupana, says discussions are being held with various trade associations and stakeholders regarding proposed contingency plans:

 # Cricket: South Africa and Pakistan will face off in the first of three T20s in Durban this evening. Heinrich Klaasen will captain the Proteas in the absence of Aiden Markram, who are getting rested together with Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada and Tristan Stubbs, who played in the just concluded Test series against Sri Lanka. The second match will be played in Centurion on Friday and the final one in Johannesburg the next day. This will be followed by three one-day matches and two Tests.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-81-cents and the euro at 18-rand-82-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-73-cents and Bitcoin trades at 97-thousand-478-dollars-4-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-667-dollars-75-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-82-cents a barrel.

# And finally, South African opera singer Pretty Yende says performing at the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was a divine moment. She sang Amazing Grace, backed by an orchestra under the direction of Venezuelan maestro Gustavo Dudamel. The concert marked the culmination of a five-year renovation project following a destructive fire in April 2019. Yende told the SABC she was in the French capital when the fire broke out:

Stay tuned for more news………….