News 16:00

BULLETIN 8 December 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# FOSA rejects minister Kubayi’s suggestion that the Madlanga commission should proceed in camera
# The Border Management Authority secures critical partnerships to assist with immigration management at ports of entry
# And rugby: A former Bok takes over from Plumtree at the Sharks

# Forum for South Africa rejects Justice and Constitutional Development minister Mmamoloko Kubayi’s suggestion that the Madlanga commission should proceed in camera. Kubayi announced the move following the murder of Marius van der Merwe, known as Witness D, in Brakpan, Ekurhuleni, on Friday night. FOSA leader Tebogo Mashilompane says the right to know and media freedom must not be compromised:

# Border Management Authority commissioner, Michael Masiapato says they secured critical partnerships with various stakeholders to assist with immigration management at ports of entry. He says the Western Cape government and the City of Cape Town has availed about 50 personnel for deployment at Cape Town International Airport, and the Gauteng government availed about 80 personnel for deployment at OR Tambo International Airport:

# The Competition Tribunal of South Africa has approved, with conditions, a merger between ACE Brands and Tiger Consumer Brands’ inland milling units in the Highveld. Under the deal, Rand Agri Holdings will acquire Tiger’s wheat, white maize, and Ace brand plants in Potchefstroom. Rand Agri, which operates a yellow maize mill in Bethal, will expand its production, including maize grits, pap, samp, instant porridge, and other Ace-branded products, while safeguarding workers’ rights.

Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump says he would have a say whether a proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Brothers should go forward. Netflix on Friday agreed to buy Warner Brothers Discovery’s TV, film studios and streaming division for 1.26-trillion-rand, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood’s most prized assets to the streaming pioneer. Trump did not say whether he favoured approval for the deal, but pointed to a potential concentration of market power in the entertainment industry.

# Rugby: Former Springbok back player JP Pietersen has taken over as interim head coach of the Sharks after John Plumtree’s tenure ended in agony when the team lost 59-19 to Toulouse in a Champions Cup match in France yesterday. The hosts already led 28-0 after 24 minutes, underlining the Durban team’s woes despite their abundance of national players. Plumtree will stay on with the union in a different but yet unspecified role. Pietersen played the final of his 69 Tests for South Africa in 2016.  

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-97-cents and the euro at 19-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-59-cents and Bitcoin trades at 91-thousand-909-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-211-dollars-71-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-88-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….