News 11:00

BULLETIN 9 December 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Lamola says South Africa will engage in multilateral trade negotiations in Davos
# FOSA is advocating for sanctions against AfriForum and Solidarity for undermining South Africa’s sovereignty
# And cricket: Markram says the T20 series against India is a great opportunity ahead of the World Cup

# International Relations and Cooperation minister, Ronald Lamola, says ongoing tensions with the US will not deter the South African delegation from engaging in multilateral trade negotiations at the World Economic Forum in Davos next year. South Africa’s relationship with America is strained due to several issues, including the imposition of 30-percent tariffs, the G20, the halting of funding and aid, and the government being accused of genocide against Afrikaners. Lamola says he doubts there will be any platform in Davos to engage with the US on bilateral relations.

Meanwhile, Forum for South Africa says organisations, including AfriForum and Solidarity, need to be sanctioned for spreading lies about the country to the US. The lobby groups, who have embarked on highly publicised visits to America in the last few months, are accused of conspiring with foreign powers to undermine South Africa’s sovereignty. FOSA’s leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, says AfriForum and Solidarity must have their civil rights movement status revoked and be criminally charged for attacking the state:

# Freedom Under Law says Menzi Simelane is not a fit or proper person to be appointed as National Director for Public Prosecutions. He is one of six candidates shortlisted for the position, despite the Johannesburg Society of Advocates applying for him to be struck from the roll on the basis that he is unfit to practise. Simelane was appointed National Prosecuting Authority head in 2009, but the appointment was set aside by the Constitutional Court three years later. FUL says any attempts to appoint Simelane would be unjustifiable.

Moving abroad:

# The death toll from renewed fighting between Thailand and Cambodia over a disputed border has risen to ten. Violent clashes broke out yesterday, less than two months after the countries signed a joint peace declaration. Cambodia says two more civilians have been killed in overnight shelling by Thai forces, bringing the total deaths on its side to seven. Thailand has reported that at least three soldiers were killed. Thailand’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nikorndej Balankura, says Cambodia’s aggression is unwarranted:

# Cricket: Proteas captain Aiden Markram believes the T20 series against India is the perfect opportunity for players to prove themselves, especially before the World Cup next year. David Miller has been included in the 16-man squad, while fast bowler Anrich Nortjé also returns after more than a year. The five-match series gets underway in Cuttack this afternoon. With the Indian Premier League auction set in Abu Dhabi next Tuesday, Markram admits players may look to impress:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-3-cents and the euro at 19-rand-84-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-70-cents and Bitcoin trades at 90-thousand-208-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-182-dollars-94-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….