News 12:00

BULLETIN 3 December 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Saftu says attempts by the US to exclude South Africa from the G20 are illegitimate
# Three people are killed in a suspected gang shooting in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town
# And rugby: The disciplinary panel reportedly failed to reach an agreement on Etzebeth’s punishment

# Saftu says the threat by the US to exclude South Africa from the G20 is a politically motivated act of coercion, not a procedural decision. South Africa has not been invited to this month’s first G20 sherpas meeting in Washington under the US presidency. Last week, US president Donald Trump also stated that he would not invite South Africa to the leaders’ summit in Miami in December next year. Saftu’s spokesperson, Asive Dyani, says all G20 member states must reject arbitrary exclusions:

# Cape Town police are investigating a gang-related shooting in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain, where a nine-year-old boy and two adults were killed last night. Four gunmen allegedly fired into a home at Viscount Street before entering and continuing to shoot. A 21-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man died alongside the child, while two men were hospitalised. Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile has condemned the shooting and urged the speedy arrest of the perpetrators.

# The South African Local Government Association has reiterated its call for a fundamental review of the Local Government Fiscal Framework and funding mechanisms. This follows the release of the 2025/26 Medium Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework by National Treasury. Salga’s Lerato Phasha says it is clear that municipalities face operating deficits as expenditure is projected to outpace revenue. She says key cost drivers include rising electricity and water tariffs, declining revenue collection, and increasing employee-related costs:

Moving abroad:

# The Malaysian Transport Ministry has confirmed that a search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will resume on December 30th. The aircraft carrying 239 people vanished from radar screens on March 8, 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. A search conducted in March was suspended because of poor weather conditions. The US-based robotic company Ocean Infinity will recommence the search over a period of 55 days. The ministry says it is committed to providing closure to the families affected by this tragedy.

# Rugby: World Rugby’s disciplinary panel reportedly failed to reach a consensus on what punishment Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth should be given. This follows his red card for allegedly eye-gouging flanker Alex Mann in South Africa’s 73–0 demolition of Wales in Cardiff over the weekend. According to reports, the three-person panel requested additional time amid reports of major disagreement over the severity of the sanction. Etzebeth may now only learn his fate on Sunday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-5-cents and the euro at 19-rand-85-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-58-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-875-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-206-dollars-35-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-59-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….