News 08:00

BULLETIN 23 November 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# DIRCO says the handover of the G20 Presidency will likely happen at a later stage
# Officials from America, the European Union and and Ukraine are meeting  today on the US peace plan for Ukraine
# And rugby, South Africa overcome Ireland for first time in Dublin since 2012

# The Department of International Relations and Cooperation says the handover of the G20 Presidency to the United States will likely happen at a later date at its offices in Pretoria at the appropriate level. This comes after Washington signalled it would only send a chargé d’affaires to the closing ceremony. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says they will not allow the president to hand over the G20 presidency to a junior official:

Deputy president Paul Mashatile meanwhile says South Africa’s G20 Presidency has made revitalising the Compact with Africa a central priority. He chaired a high-level G20 Compact with Africa event on economic growth and jobs on the sidelines of the Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg yesterday. The compact aims to deepen investment, create jobs and build sustainable prosperity through stronger partnerships. Mashatile says since its establishment during Germany’s G20 Presidency in 2017, the compact has made steady progress:

# The corruption trial of former National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has been set for 20 July next year in the High Court in Pretoria. Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of receiving and soliciting 4.5-million-rand between 2016 and 2019, including 2.1-million-rand allegedly in cash from a service provider during her tenure as Defence minister. Investigating Directorate Against Corruption spokesperson Henry Mamothame says her 50-thousand-rand bail has been extended until her next court appearance:

# The South African Weather Service has issued Orange and Yellow warnings for thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail, and strong winds in Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, and Mpumalanga today. Residents are urged to take precautions as flooding, property damage, and infrastructure disruptions are expected. Extremely high fire danger warnings are in place for Swartland, North West, and Free State. Gauteng and other provinces can expect warm, partly cloudy conditions with isolated showers and thundershowers.

# National security advisors from France, Britain and Germany will meet European Union, U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Geneva today to discuss Washington’s proposed 28 point peace plan for Ukraine. The meeting is in response to President Donald Trump’s demand for Ukraine to accept his peace plan with Russia by Thursday. Reuters quotes a U.S. official saying that U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll had already landed in Geneva for the talks. A European draft peace plan, based on the U.S. proposal, had been sent to Ukraine and to the U.S. administration.

# South Africa secured their first win in Dublin since 2012 with a 24-13 victory in a Autumn Nations Series test last night over an ill-disciplined Ireland side. The home team was reduced to 12 men at one stage. Tries by Damian Willemse, Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, as well as a penalty try, secured the victory for the Springboks, who were leading 19 -7 at half time. The Irish stayed in the match despite James Ryan receiving a 20-minute red card and Sam Prendergast, Jack Crowley, Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy being sin-binned.

Stay tuned for more news………….