News 15:00

BULLETIN 1 December 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Madlanga commission will hear Mkhwanazi and Mchunu’s testimony this week
# Thuli Madonsela is in a legal fight over her late partner’s ten-million-rand estate
# And roadrunning: The City of Johannesburg says the Soweto Marathon was a success

# The Madlanga commission will hear testimony from suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi and Police minister Senzo Mchunu this week. Spokesperson Jeremy Michaels says Mchunu will testify tomorrow, as he faces allegations of political interference in police operations and the disbandment of the political killings task team. Mkhwanazi will conclude the public hearings on Friday. Michaels reaffirmed the commission’s three-month interim report will be submitted to president Cyril Ramaphosa by the 17th.

Meanwhile, the former Ekurhuleni city manager Imogen Mashazi told the commission of a strained relationship with mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza. She is accused of protecting Mkhwanazi. Mashazi alleges Xhakaza blocked a ministerial waiver allowing her to work until retirement at 65. He instead pushed for special leave in June, and proposed a mutual separation. She retired in July, saying the city never paid her outstanding dues:

# Former public protector Thuli Madonsela is locked in a legal dispute with the children of her late partner, Richard Foxton, over his ten-million-rand estate. The 82-year-old public relations executive died in June. His children are challenging Madonsela’s claim, prompting her to take legal steps. Experts say the dispute underscores estate law complexities in South Africa, especially where formal agreements or wills may be unclear pertaining to long-term partnerships.

# Roadrunning: The City of Johannesburg says the weekend’s Soweto Marathon was a huge success, attracting 18-thousand runners from countries including South Africa, Kenya, France and Zambia. Lesotho’s Joseph Seutloali won the men’s race, becoming the second athlete to win both the Two Oceans Marathon and the Soweto Marathon in the same year. Margaret Jepchumba from Kenya became the 16th different women’s winner. Mayor Dada Morero says the marathon’s continued growth signals global confidence in Soweto’s capacity and infrastructure to host major events.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-8-cents and the euro at 19-rand-86-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-60-cents and Bitcoin trades at 86-thousand-460-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-252-dollars-89-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-91-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Department of Health says South Africa has made great strides in the fight to combat HIV/Aids. Today is World AIDS Day. The department’s spokesperson, Foster Mohale, says South Africa continues to carry the highest burden of HIV globally, with an estimated eight-million people affected. He says about six-million of them are on life-saving treatment:

Stay tuned for more news………….