News 13:00

BULLETIN 1 December 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Mashatile says the G20 outcomes highlight Africa’s priorities
# China launches a nationwide fire safety inspection following the devastating Hong Kong fire
# And athletics: Duplantis and McLaughlin-Levrone are the World Athletes of the Year

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile says the G20 leaders’ summit placed the interests of Africa and the Global South at the heart of global decision-making. He addressed the 58th plenary assembly session of the Southern African Development Community’s parliamentary forum. Mashatile outlined several commitments made by G20 leaders, including support for debt treatment reforms, improved representation of Sub-Saharan Africa at the International Monetary Fund and the global renewable energy targets:

# The Department of Water and Sanitation has allowed the Jagersfontein mine in the Free State to continue operating despite a scathing report against it before the mine dam collapsed in 2022, killing two people and leaving one missing. The report revealed management may have known of structural risks, and the dam was built without a registered engineer’s design. Officials cite economic concerns, while criminal charges proceed in the Free State High Court.

# The Gauteng Department of Economic Development spent hundreds of thousands of rand to contest a 150-thousand-rand acting allowance claim by former Gauteng Gambling Board employee Lucky Lukhwareni. MEC Lebogang Maile revealed the Labour Court dismissed the department’s case on 18 August. The DA’s Mike Moriarty says they criticise the decision as wasteful and unethical, saying such spending is unacceptable while provincial services struggle to meet citizens’ needs:

Moving abroad:

# A countrywide inspection of fire-safety standards in high-rise buildings will be conducted in China after last week’s fire in Hong Kong that left at least 128 people dead. This is seen as a step to avert any comparable disaster on the mainland. The fire rapidly engulfed seven of eight 32-storey blocks at an apartment complex undergoing renovation with bamboo scaffolding and foam insulation materials. The Ministry of Emergency Management says special attention will be paid to buildings undergoing external wall renovations and interior modifications.

# Athletics: Mondo Duplantis was crowned Male World Athlete of the Year for the third time at the World Athletics Awards held in Monaco. The Swedish pole vault star set four world records this year and was undefeated in 16 competitions. He also won the men’s field award. American sprint sensation Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won the Female World Athletes of the Year award. She became the first woman since 1985 to break the 48-second barrier in the 400 metres in Tokyo this year. Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi won the men’s track award.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-6-cents and the euro at 19-rand-83-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-57-cents and Bitcoin trades at 86-thousand-715-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-248-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-42-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….