News 09:00

BULLETIN 29 November 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Senzo Mchunu disbanded the police task team without knowing the full impact
# Minister Andries Nel urges national action to end adolescent pregnancy
# And rugby: The Blitzboks coach says they are ready for the new world series

# Acting deputy national police commissioner Hilda Senthumule told the Madlanga Commission that Police minister Senzo Mchunu disbanded the Political Killings Task Team while still in his orientation phase. She said Mchunu had not fully understood the magnitude or consequences of the move. She explained the decision affected detectives, disrupted ongoing investigations, and created uncertainty within the police service, raising concerns about the handling of politically motivated killings:

# Justice and Constitutional Development deputy minister Andries Nel has emphasised that adolescent pregnancy interrupts not only girls’ futures but also the nation’s. Speaking at an Indaba on adolescent pregnancy in Johannesburg, Nel raised concern about 117-thousand-195 girls between the ages of ten and 19 who gave birth in the 2024/25 financial year. The deputy minister called for comprehensive education, adolescent-friendly health services, support for pregnant learners, community engagement, and coordinated government action. He stressed constitutional rights, justice, and empowerment, and pledged that no girl will be left behind and every dream must be protected.

# The DA in the Western Cape has criticised the ANC national government after SAPS crime statistics for April to September revealed two-thousand-308 murders and over 133-thousand serious crimes. The party’s Benedicta van Minnen says the national government has failed to resource policing adequately, leaving communities vulnerable. Van Minnen says the DA calls for a review of SAPS leadership and devolved provincial policing powers to improve safety:

# The South African Local Government Association will host the 2025 COMPACT conference with support from the European Union. SALGA’s Motalatale Modiba says the conference brings together experts to reimagine developmental local government, improve accountability and citizen participation, and guide legislative changes ahead of South Africa’s seventh local government elections:

#  African swine fever has returned to Spain after three decades, with the discovery that two wild boar found dead near Barcelona tested positive for the virus. The outbreak, the first since 1994, coincides with Spanish efforts to court Beijing and gain market share in the pork sector. China and Spain signed a deal this month that would mean China would only restrict imports from an affected region rather than from all of Spain. Spain is the European Union’s leading pork producer, accounting for roughly a quarter of the bloc’s output, ahead of Germany.

# And rugby: The Springbok Sevens are up against Argentina, Fiji, and France in Group A when the new World Series starts in Dubai today. Head coach Philip Snyman, who had played in the United Arab Emirates eight times during his playing career, says they are as well-prepared as they could be. He says they are well aware of the threats, with France being the Olympic champion, Fiji probably the most recognised sevens country in the world, and Argentina, which had won the series over the last couple of years.

Stay tuned for more news………….