News 06:00

BULLETIN 18 November 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Lamola says there will be no further flights with Palestinians
# The ACDP wants answers on the arrival of the Palestinian refugees in South Africa
# And, Berlin is going to lift the suspension of weapon sales to Israel

# International Relations and Cooperation minister Ronald Lamola says South Africa does not want any further flights carrying Palestinian refugees. This was after a chartered plane with 153 passengers landed at OR Tambo International Airport last week, without proper documentation. Lamola described the arrival as suspicious and linked it to an alleged Israeli plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza. He called for a thorough investigation into the flight and its organisers:

Meanwhile, the African Christian Democratic Party has criticised South Africa’s immigration laws, describing them as very weak. This comes as the party has questioned the arrival of the Palestinian refugees, citing potential breaches of immigration laws. The group was admitted into the country on 90-day humanitarian visas. ACDP deputy president Wayne Thring says it is concerning that criminals from anywhere can come into South Africa and apply for refugee status:

# Former political killings task team member Ntate Khumalo has told the Madlanga commission that he last handled the 121 dockets on 26 March, after receiving them from two combat members who transferred them from KwaZulu-Natal. Khumalo said the dockets were returned in August, following police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s 6 July press conference, citing it felt like the calm after the turbulence:

# The ANC in Ekurhuleni has expressed alarm over evidence emerging from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry about the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department. Suspended EMPD deputy chief, Julius Mkhwanazi, is accused of having run a rogue unit within the department that was complicit in several crimes ranging from murder to theft, fraud, and corruption. The ANC says the allegations against the EMPD are serious, damning, and warrant corrective measures. The party is calling for an urgent internal probe and firm action to ensure accountability and consequence management.

#  Germany on Monday decided to resume weapons sales to Israel. However, it said the decision is subject to the observance of the ceasefire in Gaza and the large-scale provision of humanitarian aid. Germany is the second-largest exporter of arms to Israel after the United States, announced a suspension of some arms exports to Israel in August, amid mounting popular pressure over the war. Berlin will lift the suspension order on November 24 and return to a case-by-case review of arms exports to Israel, while continuing to monitor the developments on the ground.

# Cricket: Former Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara says he won’t accept the current period of transition as an excuse for the loss to South Africa in the first Test in Kolkata; the Proteas’ first victory in the country since 2010. The visitors struggled with the bat, only posting a combined 313 runs in their two innings, but India was bowled out for just 93 while chasing a 124-run winning target. Pujara questioned the batters’ approach on an unpredictable pitch. The final Test starts in Guwahati on Saturday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-15-cents and the euro at 19-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-57-cents and Bitcoin trades at 91-thousand-930-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-48-dollars-24-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-58-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….