News 08:00

BULLETIN 7 January 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Special Investigation Unit boss, Andy Mothibi, is the new National Director of Public Prosecutions
# Parliament’s ad hoc committee will meet today to discuss Paul O’Sullivan
# And, US president Donald Trump is discussing a range of options to acquire Greenland

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Special Investigating Unit head, Andy Mothibi, as the new National Director of Public Prosecutions. He will replace advocate Shamila Batohi, who retires at the end of this month after seven years in the position. Mothibi was not among the six candidates interviewed by a seven-person advisory panel for the position. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says the panel, chaired by Justice minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, submitted three short-listed candidates for recommendation to the president:

# Parliament’s ad hoc committee, tasked with probing accusations of political meddling and corruption in the police and the wider criminal justice system, is scheduled to meet today. Members of the committee will discuss, among other things, its public participation process, its programme relating to the resumption of oral hearings, as well as to receive a report on cases against forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan. In November last year, the MK Party laid criminal charges against O’Sullivan, accusing him of threatening and intimidating witnesses linked to the committee.

# The DA has accused the ANC of abusing state resources to campaign under the guise of economic development in North West. The party says the MEC for Economic Development, Bitsa Lenkopane, used an official departmental statement to promote the ANC’s January 8 celebrations. The DA’s Jóhni Steenkamp says the move is unlawful and the party will approach the Public Protector over the alleged misuse of public funds and state platforms:

# The White House says president Donald Trump and his advisers are discussing a range of options to acquire Greenland. While most Greenlanders favour eventual independence from Denmark, opinion polls show overwhelming opposition to becoming part of the US, which already has a military base on the island. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says utilising the US military is always an option at the Commander-in-Chief’s disposal. European leaders have rallied behind Denmark, calling for principles of the United Nations Charter, including sovereignty and territorial integrity, to be upheld.

# Cricket: Defending champions MI Cape Town registered their first win of this year’s SA20 campaign with a four-wicket victory over the Joburg Super Kings on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method at Newlands. The rain-interrupted clash, which was reduced to 12 overs a side, saw JSK captain Faf du Plessis score 44 as the visitors posted 123 for seven. In reply, Rassie van der Dussen and Nicholas Pooran scored 35 and 33 respectively as MI Cape Town reached the target with four balls to spare.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-36-cents and the euro at 19-rand-14-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-10-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-874-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-474-dollars-48-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 59-dollars-99-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….