News 17:00

BULLETIN 18 November 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Mary de Haas reveals alleged political interference, intimidation and fabricated evidence in KwaZulu-Natal
# President Cyril Ramaphosa highlights Platreef Mine’s role in South Africa’s critical minerals strategy
# And rugby: Ireland’s Ringrose and Van der Flier are fit for the clash against South Africa

# Human rights researcher and veteran social anthropologist Mary de Haas has told Parliament’s ad hoc committee that police officers in KwaZulu-Natal faced widespread intimidation, while the politically facilitated task team allegedly engaged in unlawful actions and fabricated evidence. Her investigations and letters were cited as key reasons for the disbandment of the team. De Haas claimed whistleblowers and task team members who made breakthroughs were harassed, and some faced threats to their lives:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the launch of production at Ivanplats’ Platreef Mine in Limpopo concludes over 27 years of exploration and development. Speaking at the inauguration, he praised the mine’s role in critical minerals strategy, green energy, and community development. He highlighted the five-megawatt solar farm, water management initiatives, and workforce upskilling, emphasising mining as a driver of economic growth. He urged stakeholders to work together to ensure sustainable growth:

# The Department of Defence has expressed strong concern after South African Navy chief, Monde Lobese, used a weekend gala dinner to criticise what he called the chronic underfunding of the defence force. Lobese questioned whether defence budget cuts could be directly or indirectly influenced by criminal networks benefiting from weaker maritime security. The department’s Siphiwe Dlamini says the remarks were inappropriate and disingenuous, and do not represent the Department’s official position:

# US Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, says under American presidency the G20 will have fewer participants. He spoke next to president Donald Trump in the White House and said the G20 has basically become the G100 this past year. In a video that surfaced yesterday, Bessent said a concentrated group in Miami will see the best America has to offer, with American leadership. Forty-two countries will participate in this weekend’s G20 summit in Johannesburg where South Africa will hand over the presidency to the US in absentia.

# Rugby: Centre Garry Ringrose and forward Josh van der Flier are available for Ireland for Saturday’s Test against South Africa, but Stuart McCloskey misses out with injury. Ringrose and Van der Flier have both recovered from hamstring strains ahead of the clash with the world champions after missing the 46-19 victory over Australia last weekend. McCloskey suffered a groin injury that forced him to retire in the first half against the Wallabies, and Bundee Aki was introduced as his replacement. Ireland will announce its team on Thursday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-20-cents and the euro at 19-rand-94-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-60-cents and Bitcoin trades at 91-thousand-271-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-52-dollars-26-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-1-cent a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….