News 08:00

BULLETIN 7 December 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa calls for strengthened witness protection measures following the murder of a Madlanga Commission witness 
# Minister Kubayi will be reviewing media coverage at the Commission following the murder of Witness D
# And in cricket: South Africa goes down 2-1 in the one day series against India

# President Cyril Ramaphosa is calling for a swift investigation and for strengthened witness protection measures following the murder of Marius van der Merwe, known as Witness D at the Madlanga Commission. The 41-year-old was shot multiple times in full view of his family outside their Brakpan home, in Ekurhuleni on Friday night. Ramaphosa says Van der Merwe served the cause of justice and integrity by testifying at the Commission. The president says government is devastated by his killing:

The minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, meanwhile says her department is reviewing media coverage at the Madlanga Commission following Van der Merwe’s murder. Kubayi was speaking during the media briefing on the progress made on the Minister’s first year in office in Pretoria. The minister says van der Merwe was offered protection which he declined, because he thought he didn’t need it as he was running a security company:

# The Western Cape Mobility MEC, Isaac Sileku says as the 16 Days campaign continues, he encourages residents to support survivors, report abuse, and be active champions for safer homes, communities and transport networks. He says gender-based violence continues to affect countless women and children across the province. Sileku says many survivors depend on safe, reliable transport to access shelters, social services, health care and justice processes, making mobility a key enabler of safety and dignity:

# Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their border at the weekend. The flare-up comes days after peace talks ended without a breakthrough. No casualties have been immediately confirmed. Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani forces attacked positions in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar on Friday night. prompting a response from Afghan units. A spokesman for Pakistan’s prime minister said Afghan forces opened “unprovoked firing” along the border in Chaman. The border skirmish came two days after talks between the two countries ended without progress.

# Rugby: Despite having a Springbok-heavy side, the Bulls were not able to stop the French team of Bordeaux from beating them by 46 – 33 in their first Champions Cup encounter at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. The Bulls took a commanding 33-22 lead into halftime, but two crucial yellow cards in the second half proved costly. Bordeaux’s attacking brilliance and superior depth allowed them to score 24 unanswered points after the break, securing a valuable bonus-point win for the defending champions.

# And finally cricket: India defeated South Africa convincingly by nine wickets in the third and last ODI in Visakhapatnam to clinch the series 2-1. After restricting the Proteas to 270, thanks to four-wicket hauls from Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna, India chased down the target comfortably. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal starred for India, smashing his maiden ODI century of 116 not out, supported by quick fifties from Rohit Sharma on 75 and Virat Kohli on 65. Quinton de Kock’s 106 for South Africa proofed to be in vain.

Stay tuned for more news………….