News 13:00

BULLETIN 18 December 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Construction Industry Development Board raises alarm over construction safety lapses
# Cabinet appoints senior judges to the Companies Tribunal
# And cricket: Stokes and Archer take the fight to the Australian bowlers in Adelaide

# The Construction Industry Development Board has raised serious concerns about poor construction oversight and non-compliance with safety standards. This follows an interim report confirming the Verulam temple which collapsed in Redcliff, KwaZulu-Natal, was non-compliant. It has been declared a crime scene after five people died. CIDB CEO Bongani Dladla told SABC News proper health and safety documentation, and strict compliance are critical to prevent similar tragedies in future:

# Cabinet has appointed several senior judges to serve on the Companies Tribunal. They include Judges Mohammed Navsa, Kathleen Satchwell, Robert Nugent, Boissie Mbha and Visvanathan Ponnan. The tribunal says the judges’ extensive judicial experience and commitment to justice will strengthen its work at a critical time. It adds their expertise in commercial law, dispute resolution and administrative justice will enhance arbitration processes and promote accessible, efficient and impartial justice for companies.

# Political analyst Kenneth Mokgathle says terrorism is growing across Africa as coups, corruption, and weak leadership leave nations exposed. According to the United Nations, the Sahel region now accounts for 19-percent of all global terrorist incidents. Mokgathle says extremist organisations such as Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara and others have taken advantage of the vacuum created by declining international counterterrorism support in Africa:

# Cricket: England trails Australia by 158 runs after the second day of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide. The hosts lost their final wicket with the score on 371 earlier today after Alex Carey’s 106. For England, captain Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer frustrated the Aussie bowlers with an undefeated 44-run ninth wicket partnership. They will resume on 213 for eight. Australian spinner Nathan Lyon took his tally of Test wickets to 564 today, overhauling compatriot Glenn McGrath to move to sixth on the all-time list.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-77-cents and the euro at 19-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-38-cents and Bitcoin trades at 86-thousand-981-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-323-dollars-75-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 59-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The National Science and Technology Forum invites nominations for the 28th NSTF-South32 Awards, known as South Africa’s Science Oscars. These awards celebrate people and organisations doing great work in science, technology, engineering, and innovation. Next year’s theme is Healthy Ageing, recognising research and inventions that help improve the lives of older people. New awards include research software and human language technologies. Nominations must be registered online by 29 January, with full submissions due by 5 March.

Stay tuned for more news………….