News 07:00

BULLETIN 20 November 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Creecy says three airports will facilitate the arrival of heads of state for the Leaders’ Summit
# Shamila Batohi says prosecutors cannot fulfil their mandate if their decisions are politically influenced
# And, a Russian spy ship in British waters is being monitored closely

# Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy says the OR Tambo International Airport, Waterkloof Air Force Base and Lanseria Airport will serve as entry points for the heads of state attending the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg this weekend. The minister provided an update on Wednesday on South Africa’s aviation infrastructure and the readiness of major airports ahead of the summit. Creecy says the country’s ports of entry have met all security and safety requirements needed to manage the influx of international delegates:

Meanwhile, trade union Solidarity says its campaign against discriminatory regulations continues after the City of Johannesburg agreed to return its 70-metre banner. The banner, which reads, ‘Welcome to the most race-regulated country in the world, ’ was removed last month. The union is also seeking repayment from the advertising agency and will take legal action if necessary. Solidarity’s Connie Mulder says 38 more billboards have been put up across the city to keep the debate on South Africa’s racial policies in the public eye.

# National Director of Public Prosecutions head, Shamila Batohi, says any perception that prosecutions are politically motivated, or selectively pursued, erodes the legitimacy and confidence in the entire system. She testified in the misconduct inquiry against suspended Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, Andrew Chauke. Batohi is the main complainant in the inquiry, having reported Chauke to president Cyril Ramaphosa. She says the inquiry is not about prosecutorial discretion but about politically influenced decisions and prosecutions:

# Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Tasneem Motara, will launch a new Research Chair in partnership with the University of Johannesburg today. The event strengthens collaboration between government and academia to tackle human settlement challenges. The initiative will drive policy-focused research on housing finance, spatial inequality, and urban development. It also aims to develop postgraduate talent, enhance municipal learning, and build innovation networks for sustainable, inclusive settlements across the province.

# Defence Secretary John Healey says British forces were hit by lasers while tracking a Russian spy ship, the Yantar, on the edge of UK waters north of Scotland. The vessel is designed for gathering intelligence and mapping undersea cables. This is the second time this year that the Yantar has deployed to UK waters. Healey says he has changed the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement so that it could follow the Yantar more closely:

# Cricket: The Perth Stadium’s pitch will be an unknown factor for both Australia and England when this season’s Ashes Series kicks off tomorrow. It’s a relatively new venue after Australia ditched the iconic Waca, while unseasonal weather and a new surface only dropped in a month ago also add to the uncertainty. Western Australian head curator Isaac McDonald doesn’t believe the elements will change the characteristics of the pitch, saying pace and bounce should always be expected.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-17-cents and the euro at 19-rand-81-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-42-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-212-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-95-dollars-17-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-21-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….