News 12:00

BULLETIN 9 December 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Trevor Manuel is appointed to a UN body to tackle the global debt crisis
# Home Affairs launches its first-ever e-recruitment platform
# And golf: Scottie Scheffler claims a record-equalling ninth title of the year

# Former Finance minister Trevor Manuel has been appointed to a United Nations expert group, tasked with finding policy solutions to the world’s debt crisis. The group announced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, will promote actionable policy solutions and galvanise political and public support required to resolve the debt crisis. The group’s findings will inform the 2025 Financing for Development Conference. Analysts commend Manuel’s expertise, but criticise the South African government for underutilising local talent, as the nation faces its own economic challenges.

# Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber says his department has taken a step in its digital transformation journey, with the launch of its new e-recruitment platform. The online system will allow job seekers to apply for vacancies without the hassle of paperwork. Schreiber says the department is moving towards a future where services are digitally accessible and fraudulent practices are eliminated:

# A delegation from the Department of Social Development is leaving for Mauritius today, to bring back a five-year-old child whose South African mother is incarcerated in the country. The mother was arrested for drug trafficking in May 2019 while pregnant. The department has repatriated 22 children who were distressed in foreign countries since 2015. The department’s spokesperson, Bathembu Futshane, says the delegation is expected to return with the child on Friday:

# United Nations secretary-general, António Guterres, says the end of president Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorial regime means the people of Syria can seize a historic opportunity to build a stable and peaceful future. Rebel forces yesterday declared that the government had fallen after they took the capital of Damascus. Al-Assad and his family have fled to Russia. Guterres says it is imperative to ensure that any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria.

# Golf: World number one Scottie Scheffler capped off a brilliant season by successfully defending his Hero World Challenge title in the Bahamas. The American finished six shots clear of South Korea’s Tom Kim with his compatriot Justin Thomas in third. This is Scheffler’s record-equalling ninth title of the year, which includes the US Masters and Olympic gold. He says it has been a pretty surreal year:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-88-cents and the euro at 18-rand-95-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 99-thousand-617-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-647-dollars-97-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-76-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….