News 09:00

BULLETIN 3 December 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Steenhuisen is pleased with the agricultural growth in the third quarter
# Cosatu remains concerned with the latest GDP growth figures
# And the US Defence Secretary defends the follow-up strike on a suspected drug boat

# Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen has welcomed the latest Statistics SA data that shows the country’s agriculture has grown an additional 1.1-percent in gross value in the third quarter of 2025. This follows a 2.5-percent growth in the second quarter. The department’s spokesperson, Joylene van Wyk, says notably South African exports rose by 0.7-percent, primarily led by an increase in trade of vegetable products and mineral products:

# Cosatu says it remains deeply concerned with the latest gross domestic product growth figures. South Africa’s economy grew 0.5-percent in the third quarter of 2025, marking the fourth consecutive quarterly increase. The economic boost between July and September follows an upward revision of quarter two GDP data to 0.9-percent, from 0.8-percent before. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says this is still far from enough to see the economy growing at the three-percent needed to generate a continuous and meaningful fall in unemployment:

# The City of Tshwane says it has successfully reversed and credited more than 90-percent of accounts that were billed the 194-rand cleansing levy since July 2025. Last month, the High Court in Pretoria declared the controversial cleaning levy unlawful and ordered the metro to credit residents who have already paid it. The metro’s spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo, says this action reflects Tshwane’s respect for judicial authority:

# US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, says he was not watching when Admiral Frank Bradley ordered a second strike on an alleged drug-running boat in the Caribbean on September 2nd. An initial strike left two survivors clinging to the burning vessel before a second strike was ordered that left them dead. This has prompted accusations of possible war crimes. Hegseth has defended Bradley’s actions as correct and within the administration’s legal authority:

# Motorsport: Frenchman Isack Hadjar will replace Yuki Tsunoda as four-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull for the 2026 season. Hadjar has had an impressive rookie campaign at Racing Bulls, scoring points in ten races this season, including securing a maiden podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix. Tsunoda will stay in the Red Bull fold as a test and reserve driver. Meanwhile, current Formula 2 driver Arvid Lindblad will make his F1 debut with Racing Bulls alongside Liam Lawson.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-9-cents and the euro at 19-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-61-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-984-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-223-dollars-87-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-35-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….