News 12:00

BULLETIN 13 December 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Trevor Manuel is to lead the G20 Africa Expert Panel
# President Cyril Ramaphosa is criticised for the delay in the appointment of a deputy chief justice
# And tennis: The US Open’s tournament director will leave his role after next year’s event

# Former Finance minister Trevor Manuel will chair the G20 Africa Expert Panel which is a key initiative under South Africa’s G20 presidency. The panel will advise leaders on addressing Africa’s social and economic challenges, particularly the growing debt crisis. Manuel’s role aligns with his recent appointment to a United Nations expert group, tasked with galvanising action around the debt crisis facing developing countries. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana says debt sustainability can be achieved by introducing measures for countries to make the right investments, and undertake appropriate reforms.

# President Cyril Ramaphosa faces backlash for delaying the appointment of a permanent deputy chief justice, leaving the position vacant for five months. Judges Matter’s Mbekezeli Benjamin stresses the urgency, citing the deputy chief justice’s critical role in upholding judicial ethics, and supporting chief justice Mandisa Maya’s reform vision. He says this delay raises concerns about judicial stability, as the Constitution mandates prompt action.

# ActionSA says it stands firmly against the possibility of further discharge permits being granted to the City of Cape Town by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment. The metro currently releases over 30-million litres of raw, untreated sewage daily into marine reserves through marine outfalls along the Atlantic seaboard. ActionSA’s Sam Mgobozi says the metro has repeatedly refused to abide by the daily limits of effluent discharge granted through its existing coastal water discharge permits:

# The GOOD Party says reports that the gender-based violence emergency helpline is no longer available is a despicable failure by government. The helpline is managed by the Department of Social Development and operates out of the gender-based violence command centre. GOOD’s secretary general, Brett Herron, says victims of gender-based violence will pay the price for the helpline not being available:

# Tennis: Next year’s US Open will be the last for tournament director Stacey Allaster, who will then take up a strategic advisory position within the US Tennis Association. She joined the body eight years ago as CEO of professional tennis, and became the first female tournament director in 2018. Former great Billie Jean King praised Allaster for promoting equality and progress, and for working tirelessly to raise the bar. Allaster will be part of a panel who will select her successor after next year’s US Open.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-81-cents and the euro at 18-rand-64-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-50-cents and Bitcoin trades at 100-thousand-61-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-683-dollars-84-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-35-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….