News 12:00

BULLETIN 1 December 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Department of Water and Sanitation allowed the Jagersfontein mine to operate despite warnings before the dam collapse
# BLSA says a new National Director of Public Prosecutions will affect the country’s business environment for the next decade
# And rugby: Eben Etzebeth is facing a lengthy ban following the red card incident against Wales

# The Department of Water and Sanitation has allowed the Jagersfontein mine in the Free State to continue operating despite a scathing report against it before the mine dam collapsed in 2022, killing two people and leaving one missing. The report revealed management may have known of structural risks, and the dam was built without a registered engineer’s design. Officials cite economic concerns, while criminal charges proceed in the Free State High Court.

# Business Leadership South Africa says the appointment of the next National Director of Public Prosecutions is critical for business, as rule of law failures impose huge transaction costs. Current incumbent Shamila Batohi’s term in office ends next month. Six candidates, including advocates Hermione Cronjé, Andrea Johnson and Menzi Simelane, have made the shortlist. BLSA CEO Busiswe Mavuso says the selection panel must choose a candidate with prosecutorial experience and integrity, but structural reforms are essential to empower whoever is appointed.

Moving abroad:

# Ukraine’s national security council secretary, Rustem Umerov, says the latest peace talks with the US were productive and successful. Umerov, who is Kyiv’s new chief negotiator, met with US officials led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio for further talks in Florida. Officials focused on revisions to a proposed 28-point plan developed in negotiations between Washington and Russia. Umerov says the meeting was built on the success of the previous US-Ukrainian talks in Geneva:

# 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.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-7-cents and the euro at 19-rand-83-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-57-cents and Bitcoin trades at 86-thousand-518-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-252-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-34-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The City of Cape Town says the newly appointed Invest Cape Town Ambassadors will help elevate the metro’s business and investment profile abroad. The programme’s inaugural group of 15 professionals spans a range of sectors, including the arts, tourism and events, technology, and business process outsourcing. Mayoral committee member for Economic Growth, James Vos, says between January and July 2023, Cape Town landed 744 foreign direct investment projects, amounting to a capital injection of 114.76-billion-rand:

Stay tuned for more news………….