News 08:00

BULLETIN 24 November 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Tau says trade discussions with the US will continue
# Zuma’s daughter opens a criminal case against her sister over human trafficking
# And the Israeli military kills Hezbollah’s second most senior figure

# Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, says he expects negotiations with the US over a trade deal to continue. South Africa is trying to persuade president Donald Trump’s administration to lower the 30-percent tariff imposed in August on its exports to America. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been strained, especially with the US boycotting the G20 Leaders’ Summit. Tau also emphasised that the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which expired in September, is still on the table:

# Former president Jacob Zuma’s eldest daughter, Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube, has laid a criminal case of human trafficking and fraud against her sister Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla and two others. This is in relation to the 17 South African men who were allegedly lured to Russia and sent to fight in the war without their consent. Zuma-Mncube says among the 17 men are eight of her family members. National Police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, says an inquest docket has been opened:

# A Hawks officer and a Tembisa Hospital official have been arrested and charged with corruption. They attempted to bribe a Hawks investigator probing corruption at the hospital with 100-thousand-rand in cash to avoid prosecution. In September, the Special Investigating Unit released its interim report on its probe into Tembisa Hospital, uncovering three coordinated syndicates responsible for the looting of over two-billion-rand. Hawks acting national head, Siphosihle Nkosi, says the public can be assured that investigations relating to the hospital will continue without deterrence.

# The Israeli Defence Force has killed Haitham Haytham Ali Tabatabai, a senior member of the militant group Hezbollah, in an airstrike in southern Beirut, Lebanon. At least five people were killed and 28 others wounded in the strike, which hit an apartment building in the densely populated Dahieh district. The United States designated Tabatabai as a terrorist in 2016. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says they will continue to do whatever is necessary to prevent Hezbollah from reestablishing its ability to threaten his country.

# Rugby: England recorded their eleventh successive Test victory after surviving a late fightback from Argentina on their way to a 27-23 win at Twickenham. Player of the match, Max Ojomoh, starred in his home debut, scoring England’s first try and producing two try assists for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Henry Slade’s efforts. Flyhalf George Ford added a drop-goal, three conversions, and a penalty. Ojomoh says getting to play for his country is special:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-36-cents and the euro at 19-rand-99-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-74-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-721-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-44-dollars-83-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-85-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….