News 06:00

BULLETIN 27 November 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Deputy president Mashatile says bilateral relations between South Africa and Finland have strengthened
# Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala claims he gave Bheki Cele 500-thousand-rand
# And cricket: Several Proteas women are up for grabs in today’s Women’s Premier League auction

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile says relations between South Africa and Finland continue to be warm, cordial, and constructive. He held a bilateral meeting with Finland’s prime minister, Antti Petteri Orpo, in Pretoria on Wednesday. He says that since the dawn of democracy, Finland has made a meaningful contribution through trade and investments. Mashatile says water management and digitalisation remain central pillars of the bilateral cooperation. He adds that, beyond strong bilateral ties, the SA-Finland relationship has increasingly evolved into a partnership supporting Africa’s broader development priorities. 

# Criminally accused businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has told Parliament’s ad hoc committee that former Police minister Bheki Cele lied under oath. The allegations are part of an ongoing inquiry into political interference and irregular conduct in policing. Testifying under police guard at Kgosi Mampuru C-Max prison in Tshwane, Matlala said he gave Cele a total of 500-thousand-rand in two payments, and that the money should have been declared if their meeting was for research purposes:

# National Prosecuting Authority head, Shamila Batohi, says former deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions Nomgcobo Jiba authorised racketeering charges against former KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss Johan Booysen and the Cato Manor unit in 2012 without the necessary evidence. Testifying at the Nkabinde inquiry into suspended Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions Andrew Chauke’s fitness for office, Batohi said a key statement from Cato Manor commander Rajen Aiyer only became available weeks after Jiba acted:

# KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has placed provincial disaster management teams on high alert as a level four weather warning comes into effect today. Heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and possible flooding are expected in several districts, including Umgungundlovu, Ugu, Amajuba, Harry Gwala, and eThekwini. The department’s Senzelwe Mzila advised residents in low-lying areas to move to higher ground and avoid crossing fast-flowing water:

#  France’s highest court on Wednesday upheld former President Nicolas Sarkozy’s conviction for illegal campaign financing in his failed 2012 re-election bid, his latest legal setback after recently being jailed for nearly a month in another case. Sarkozy, who served one term as president from 2007 to 2012, was convicted in 2021 and again in 2024 for illegal campaign financing related to the election. The 70-year-old was sent to prison on October 21 after he was found guilty in a separate case for efforts by close aides to procure Libyan funds for his 2007 presidential bid.

# Cricket: A total of 277 players are up for sale in today’s auction for next year’s Women’s Premier League in India. That include 194 local players and 83 from overseas. Among the South Africans in the mix are Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt, who can expect huge interest following her brilliant performance at the recent one-day World Cup, teammates Tazmin Brits, Lizelle Lee, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Anneke Bosch, Chloé Tryon, and Suné Luus, as well as veteran Shabnim Ismael. The tournament starts on the 11th of February.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-12-cents and the euro at 19-rand-86-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-68-cents and Bitcoin trades at 90-thousand-489-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-167-dollars-44-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-27-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….