News 14:00

BULLETIN 2 September 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# High commissioner Sooklal is cleared over Zuma’s visit to the Guptas in India
# The City of Johannesburg appoints the controversial Lesiba Malotana as head of Public Safety
# And cricket: Ben Stokes will play for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League

# The Department of International Relations and Cooperation cleared South Africa’s high commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, following former president Jacob Zuma’s reported visit to the Gupta family in the Asian country in June. The investigation was launched after reports suggested Sooklal had assisted in arranging the meeting between Zuma and the Gupta brothers. The department says Sooklal acted within his mandate and followed proper protocol. DIRCO says its investigation found no evidence that he facilitated or had prior knowledge of the visit.

# South Africa’s International Trade Administration Commission and China’s Trade Remedies Investigation Bureau have renewed a cooperation agreement on trade remedies. The framework covers anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures, while strengthening information sharing, transparency and technical cooperation. It also supports efforts to identify potential circumvention of trade measures. ITAC says the renewed agreement modernises a framework first established in 2006 and strengthens institutional ties between the two countries, while promoting fair, transparent and rules-based international trade.

# The City of Johannesburg has appointed Lesiba Arnold Malotana as new head of its Department for Public Safety after a comprehensive recruitment, selection and assessment process. The appointment of the former head of the Gauteng Department of Health is controversial after a lifestyle audit conducted by the Special Investigating Unit classified him as ‘high risk’. The metro’s spokesperson, Nthatisi Modingoane, says Malotana brings more than 20 years of professional experience:

# Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, David Maynier, says repairs to the flood damaged area at the Bontebok National Park in the Western Cape are expected to cost 12.3-million-rand. He says the park sustained severe damage to some of its chalets and picnic sites, as well as the main access road to the accommodation area following severe flooding of the Breede River in May:

# Cricket: Former England captain Ben Stokes will play for Adelaide Strikers in Australia’s Big Bash League, starting in December. He retired from the international game in June. Stokes is reportedly set to become one of the most expensive players in the T20 league at a cost of 5.76-million-rand. Adelaide is being coached by former Australian captain Tim Paine, who describes Stokes as one of the greatest allrounders ever, a proven match-winner and a competitor who thrives under pressure.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-14-cents and the euro at 18-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-76-cents and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-619-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-310-dollars-90-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 97-dollars-12-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….