News 10:00

BULLETIN 30 December 10 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa reaffirms its commitment to Somalia’s sovereignty and regional stability
# The Public Protector confirms it has received minister Aucamp’s complaint against his predecessor
# And, the Australian prime minister defends his government’s action on antisemitism

# The Department of International Relations and Cooperation says South Africa is concerned with the recent announcement by Israel recognising Somaliland as an independent state. Israel is the first country to acknowledge Somaliland as a standalone republic, more than 30-years after the region declared independence from Somalia. The department states that the recognition constitutes a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a direct threat to peace in the Horn of Africa. It adds that Israel’s action validates fragmentation and risks a domino effect of instability.

# The Office of the Public Protector has confirmed it has received minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Willie Aucamp’s complaint against his predecessor Dion George. The minister has asked Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka to investigate George and two others over accusations of abusing state resources and a fabricated whistleblower report in the period preceding his removal from office. George has strongly denied the allegations. Gcaleka’s office says the matter is being assessed in accordance with the Public Protector’s investigation procedures.

# The Forum for South Africa is calling on the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to immediately suspend all construction sites found to be operating outside the legal and safety requirements. This follows the Doornkop building collapse in Soweto, which left three people dead. FOSA leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, says this incident adds to a disturbing pattern of construction-related disasters across the country, including the recent Redcliffe Temple collapse in Durban that killed five people:

# Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has defended his government’s actions on antisemitism following the Bondi Beach terror attack. He has faced backlash over his handling of the attack, which claimed the lives of 15 people, with the opposition accusing him of insulting victims’ families by not calling a royal commission and insisting that the Richardson Review would suffice. Albanese says his government has acted to address the challenge of antisemitism:

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says they need to improve on their defending heading into the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. South Africa defeated Zimbabwe 3-2 to reach the round of 16 for the third consecutive time, finishing Group B in second place behind seven-time champions Egypt, who also advanced to the knockout stages, along with Morocco and Mali. Broos says not being able to keep a clean sheet is concerning:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-65-cents and the euro at 19-rand-61-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-51-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-257-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-370-dollars-69-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-38-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….