News 11:00

BULLETIN 1 December 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC rejects claims of plots to remove Ramaphosa
# The SACP accuses certain factions inside the ANC of victimising its members
# And rugby: Eben Etzebeth is facing a lengthy ban following his red card against Wales

# The ANC has rejected what it says are unfounded and sensationalist claims published in the Sunday World, which falsely depict a divided leadership with plots to remove president Cyril Ramaphosa. Deputy ministers Mondli Gungubele and Joe Phaahla are accused of leading the plot to oust Ramaphosa. The ANC says these fabricated stories are deliberately designed to manufacture divisions where none exist. The party adds it won’t be distracted from its core mission of renewal, which is rooted in unity, service to citizens, and strengthening ethical and accountable democratic governance.

Meanwhile, the South African Communist Party has accused certain factions inside the ANC of targeting its members in the ongoing alliance dispute over next year’s local government elections. The SACP will contest the elections independently for the first time, a decision the ANC says is not in the best interest of the alliance. SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila says the strategic perspective of its electoral programme is to enter the local government sphere and to deepen and expand the representation of the working class:

# Transport minister Barbara Creecy and deputy minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa have announced South Africa’s return to the International Maritime Organisation Council, last holding the seat in 2021. South Africa is now the only Southern African Decelopment Community nation on the council. Ministry spokesperson Collin Msibi says the country will leverage its strategic maritime position to amplify Africa’s voice in global maritime governance and influence decisions on safety, sustainability, and shipping policy:

# US president Donald Trump says his warning about Venezuelan airspace was not a signal that an airstrike is imminent. He recently warned that strikes on land against drug trafficking networks could be coming very soon, and that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela is to be closed in its entirety. Trump says he made the airspace warning because America considers Venezuela not a very friendly country:

# Rugby: Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after his red card in the 73-0 victory over Wales in Cardiff. He was sent off for an eye-gouge on opposition flanker Alex Mann after they got involved in a scuffle. Under World Rugby regulations, intentional contact with the eye carries a minimum entry point of a 12-week ban, with top-end sanctions exceeding 24 weeks. In extreme cases, bans can stretch as far as four years, though that scenario remains highly unlikely in Etzebeth’s case.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-14-cents and the euro at 19-rand-88-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-65-cents and Bitcoin trades at 86-thousand-169-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-236-dollars-43-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-39-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….