News 11:00

BULLETIN 3 December 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# An expert says BRICS nations would suffer under a 100-percent tariff from Trump
# The DA calls for a focus on private sector energy over expensive coal plant upgrades
# And Stellenbosch University’s top brass survives the Wilgenhof report allegations

# The economies of BRICS nations would be damaged should US president-elect Donald Trump impose a 100-percent tariff on the countries. This is according to Future Forex CEO, Harry Scherzer. Trump has threatened to impose the tariff if BRICS countries were to create a rival currency to the US dollar. Scherzer says the possibility that Trump sticks to his guns and does impose tariffs, would hamstring South Africa in particular, given the strong trading alliance with America:

# EFF leader Julius Malema says what makes him sleep at night is that there is no single person in the eleven years of the party who has left and succeeded politically. The EFF has in recent months experienced a mass exodus of high-profile members including Floyd Shivambu, Dali Mpofu, Mzwanele Manyi, and Busisiwe Mkhwebane, who have all defected to the MK Party.  Speaking on the Hustlers Corner podcast, Malema says he is not shocked by all the people who decided to leave the party:

# The DA has urged Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to prioritise private sector-driven energy generation over the 90-billion-rand extension of coal plants. DA spokesperson, Kevin Mileham, highlighted renewable energy initiatives and battery storage as affordable alternatives to stabilise the grid. He warns against the financial and environmental toll of extending coal plant operations. Mileham calls for sustainable energy solutions to secure South Africa’s energy future:

# Stellenbosch University council has adopted a motion through a majority vote, accepting the explanation by its chair and vice-chancellor regarding the report on the closure of the controversial Wilgenhof residence. Vice-chancellor, Wim de Villiers, and council chairperson Nicky Newton-King were accused of altering the report after it had been finalised. The council acknowledged that the two had erred in not informing it about amendments to the report. The council also reaffirmed its earlier decision that the residence must be closed and reopened as a re-imagined male residence.

# Motorsport: Mexican Sergio Perez is reportedly set to lose his driver’s seat at Red Bull after this weekend’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The 34-year-old has scored only 152 of Red Bull’s 581 constructors points, and is 227 points behind his teammate, world champion Max Verstappen. According to reports, the contract extension Perez signed in June means he cannot be sacked outright, but can be moved into an ambassadorial role within Red Bull. RB drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson are the leading candidates to replace Perez.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-13-cents and the euro at 19-rand-1-cent. One British pound costs 22-rand-93-cents and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-991-dollars-11-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-646-dollars-71-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-16-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….