News 12:00

BULLETIN 24 November 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa says the success of the G20 leaders’ summit shows South Africa is on the rise
# Ukraine says talks on a peace plan have been productive
# And rugby: Malcolm Marx says his Player of the Year award belongs to the team

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the success of the G20 leaders’ summit, together with the improving performance of the economy and growing confidence in the reform programme, shows that South Africa is a country on the rise. The summit concluded with a leaders’ declaration, which was adopted by an overwhelming consensus. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa says the country’s G20 presidency has been rooted in the conviction that the world needs more solidarity, equality and sustainability. He adds that government has reached agreements that will benefit every South African. 

Meanwhile, deputy Finance minister David Masondo says South Africa’s expenditure on the summit must be viewed as an investment, not just an expense. Government has not revealed the final expenditure, but in September, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s estimate was around 700-million-rand. Two weeks ago, minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana appropriated an extra 100-million-rand to the G20 budget. Masondo says the long-term benefits of the summit include enhanced exposure, potential investment inflows, and elevated diplomatic status.

# Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, says peace talks with the American delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been productive. The draft 28-point peace plan put forward by US president Donald Trump is widely considered favourable to Russia, and has prompted concerns from European allies. Yermak says all of their principal concerns, security guarantees, long-term economic development, infrastructure protection, freedom of navigation, and political sovereignty have been thoroughly addressed:

# Rugby: Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx says being named World Rugby’s Player of the Year is humbling. The 31-year-old beat compatriots Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ox Nché to the award, as well as France’s Louis Bielle Biarrey. The double World Cup winner is also the first hooker to win the award since Ireland’s Keith Wood won the inaugural award in 2001. Marx says this award belongs to the team as well:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-30-cents and the euro at 19-rand-94-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-67-cents and Bitcoin trades at 86-thousand-802-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-63-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-63-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has paid tribute to retired Judge Leo van den Heever, who passed away at the age of 99. She was the first woman ever to serve as a judge in South Africa, and the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Appeal. The department’s spokesperson, Terrence Manase, says Van den Heever’s legacy is defined by integrity, courage, and a deep commitment to justice:

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Stay tuned for more news………….