News 15:00

BULLETIN 8 Desember 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# COPE demands the release of a secret intelligence report on criminal infiltration
# FOSA says it is time for South Africa to strengthen relations with other trade partners
# And cricket: New Zealand loses three bowlers for the two remaining Tests against the Windies

# COPE demands the immediate release of key sections of a classified intelligence report on criminal infiltration of the justice system from November last year. Spokesperson Pakes Dikgetsi says the report reveals organised crime paying prosecutors and attorneys to secure bail for dangerous suspects. He calls on president Cyril Ramaphosa to act, implement the Zondo and Mufamadi commissions’ recommendations, and restore public trust and safety:

# Forum for South Africa says the dying relationship between South Africa and the US might be a blessing in disguise. Relations between the two countries have been strained over the G20, tariffs and US president Donald Trump’s claims of a genocide against Afrikaners. FOSA leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, says South Africa has never given other trade partners the same treatment it has been giving to the US, and it’s now time to change this:

# The FNB/Bureau for Economic Research Building Confidence Index rose to a joint 10-year high of 43 in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from 35 in the previous quarter. Economist Siphamandla Mkwananzi says the increase was driven by a 21-point jump in hardware retailer sentiment, while activity among architects and residential builders also improved. He says despite the rise, over half of respondents remain dissatisfied with current conditions, though cautious optimism exists for growth in 2026:

# Cricket: New Zealand lost three key players for the remaining two Tests against the West Indies. Matt Henry and Nathan Smith were injured in the drawn first Test in Christchurch, while Mitchell Santner still didn’t recover from an injury which kept him out of the match. The bowlers’ absence is said to have played a major role in the Black Caps’ inability to bowl the visitors out in the fourth innings. The second Test starts in Wellington on Wednesday, and the final one in Mount Maunganui next Thursday.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-97-cents and the euro at 19-rand-77-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-60-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-161-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-203-dollars-97-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-95-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Cape Town’s libraries are offering a fine-free week for children from 15 to 20 December, allowing overdue items to be returned without paying fines. There are ten-thousand outstanding children’s books, valued at more than 2.2-million rand, with the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series taking seven of the top-10 spots. Mayoral committee member for Community Services and Health Francine Higham urges parents to encourage returns and highlights holiday programmes at libraries:

Stay tuned for more news………….