News 11:00

BULLETIN 8 December 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa says violence against women and children is a national disaster that demands national action
# The GOOD Party is calling for more protection for witnesses and whistleblowers
# And cricket: Stokes questions England’s mental state after the defeat in the second Ashes Test

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says it is a shame that South Africa has the dubious distinction of having one of the world’s highest levels of violence against women and girls. According to a study, over 35-percent of South African women aged 18 and older have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa says the government classifying gender-based violence and femicide as a national disaster recognises that dealing with this scourge demands exceptional measures. He adds that prevention is an integral part of the national effort.

# The GOOD Party says the protection for witnesses and whistleblowers must be strengthened. This is in the wake of the murder of Marius van der Merwe, who testified at the Madlanga commission of inquiry as Witness D last month. He was shot dead outside his Brakpan home in Gauteng on Friday night. GOOD’s secretary general, Brett Herron, says as long as people who are implicated walk free and the brave truth-tellers end up in early graves, there will be no true justice:

# The Border Management Authority and the Home Affairs Department have extended operating hours at some of the key ports of entry which currently do not operate on a 24-hour basis. Commissioner Michael Masiapoto briefed the media on festive season law enforcement operations and changes to operating hours. He adds the changes will assist people travelling to six immediate neighbouring countries, including Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe:

# Thailand launched airstrikes along the disputed border with Cambodia in the early hours of this morning, following weeks of simmering tension between the Southeast Asian neighbours. The Royal Thai Air Force says the airstrikes were retaliation for an attack by Cambodia, which left one soldier dead and eight others injured. The Thai military says the airstrikes targeted only military infrastructure and logistical routes assessed as direct threats. Both countries have accused one another of breaching a ceasefire agreement that was brokered by Malaysia and US president Donald Trump.

# Cricket: England’s captain, Ben Stokes, has accused his team of wilting under the intense mental pressure of Ashes cricket. This comes after England suffered an eight-wicket defeat against Australia at the Gabba to go 2-0 down in the series. Stokes says they are a great team when they are ahead or behind and playing catch-up, but when the game is on the line, they are not able to stand up to pressure. He adds this is a state of mind issue:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-92-cents and the euro at 19-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-56-cents and Bitcoin trades at 91-thousand-453-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-213-dollars-24-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….