News 11:00

BULLETIN 14 December 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Lamola warns against South Africa boycotting the G20 in America
# The Parliament Portfolio Committee on Communications calls for the withdrawal of BBBEE policy directives
# And in Rugby: The Sharks hold on for a vital Champions Cup victory over Saracens at a wet Kings Park

# International Relations and Cooperation minister Ronald Lamola says boycotting the US G20 would only encourage unilateral decision-making. Speaking to SABC News, Lamola noted that Washington has taken several unilateral trade decisions and withdrawn from multilateral platforms this year. Lamola says South Africa and most G20 members support engagement, not isolation. He affirmed South Africa’s role as a founding G20 member:

# Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies chairperson, Khusela Sangoni Diko, has called for the immediate withdrawal of policy directives issued by Communications minister Solly Malatsi to ICASA on BBBEE. Speaking to SABC News, Diko says the directive is undesirable, unlawful and an attempt to bypass the legally required 30-percent ownership by historically disadvantaged groups. She insists transformation is non-negotiable and that Parliament will exercise oversight in 2026:

# Parliament Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture chairperson, Joe McGluwa, says the South African Football Association must to appear before the committee, stressing that salary and operational information is essential for oversight. The Information Regulator clarified this week that no entity can use the Protection of Personal Information Act to avoid accountability. McGluwa stresses Parliament’s constitutional duty to oversee all organisations receiving public funds, insisting SAFA provide full transparency:

# Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber has published the Draft Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection for public comment until 31 January 2026. The revised policy proposes major reforms to citizenship, immigration, refugee management, and civil registration. Key changes include merit-based naturalisation, new visa categories, the First Safe Country Principle for asylum, and a shift to a digital Intelligent Population Register. Public consultations will run across all provinces in January.

# Fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces continued on Saturday hours after US President Donald Trump said the two countries had agreed to a ceasefire. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he told Trump a ceasefire would only be possible after Cambodia had withdrawn all its forces and removed landmines. Both sides reported continued bombing and artillery exchanges across the border on Saturday. At least 21 people have died in the renewed fighting and 700-thousand have been evacuated on both sides. Trump earlier claimed he could stop the fighting just by picking up the phone.

# And rugby: The Sharks can thank a trio of backline Springboks for their narrow but morale boosting 28-23 Champions Cup win over Saracens at a very wet Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.  Siya Kolisi, Aphelele Fassi, Edwill van der Merwe and Grant Williams scored tries for the Sharks, with George Whitehead converting all four. Saracens’ three tries came from Theo Dan, Dan Spink and Angus Hall, with a conversion and two penalties by Fergus Burke. The win allowed the Sharks to recover from last week’s hammering in Toulouse, to get five much needed log points.

Stay tuned for more news………….