News 13:00

BULLETIN 27 November 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Six candidates are shortlisted for the National Director of Public Prosecutions
# The DA says Gigaba cannot step aside from its ANC duties but continue to lead Parliament’s Defence committee
# And tennis: Stubbs defends Sinner’s absence from Italy’s Davis Cup team

# The search for South Africa’s next National Director of Public Prosecutions has entered the interview phase. Justice and Constitutional Development minister Mmamoloko Kubayi’s advisory panel has shortlisted six candidates after reviewing 32 applications. The expanded recruitment process followed a call to widen nominations through the Legal Practice Council. Those advancing include senior National Prosecuting Authority officials Nicolette Bell, Andrea Johnson, and Adrian Mopp, alongside anti-corruption specialists Hermione Cronje, Xolisile Khanyile, and former director Menzi Simelane. Public comments are now invited.

# The DA says it is deeply concerning that Malusi Gigaba has stepped aside from all ANC leadership roles, but continues to lead and participate in parliamentary oversight as co-chairperson of the joint standing committee on Defence. The former Public Enterprises minister is charged with corruption over Transnet’s controversial multibillion-rand locomotive procurement deal. The DA’s Chris Hattingh says Gigaba’s continued presence in the co-chairperson position undermines Parliament’s credibility and the integrity of South Africa’s defence oversight system:

# Union federation Cosatu says it is dismayed that the United States continue to level allegations of white genocide and land grabs against South Africa. It says this is despite this having been comprehensively proven as fake news by leading academics, media institutions and, most importantly, ordinary citizens of all races across South Africa. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says they are comforted by how these myths have been vociferously disputed by farmers, businesses and leading Afrikaners:

# The death toll in a huge fire still burning in a high-rise Hong Kong apartment complex has risen to 55 while nearly 300 people are still missing. Almost a full day after the fire began, firefighters were struggling to reach residents trapped on the upper floors. Police say the fire may have been caused by a construction company using unsafe materials during renovations, with authorities saying bamboo scaffolding may have contributed to the blaze. Meanwhile, three managers from the construction company have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

# Tennis: Former Australian player and coach Rennae Stubbs has defended Jannik Sinner for withdrawing from Italy’s team for the Davis Cup Finals, saying he was exhausted and deserves some leeway. Sinner said earlier it wasn’t such a big issue since his country has other great players, which was proved when they beat Spain on Sunday to won the title for the third successive year. Stubbs says he had a busy few months, winning three tournaments in a row, including the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-17-cents and the euro at 19-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-69-cents and Bitcoin trades at 91-thousand-674-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-154-dollars-54-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-44-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….