News 17:00

BULLETIN 5 December 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Madlanga Commission probes conflicting Political Killings Task Team reintegration instructions
# The deputy minister of Employment and Labour says businesses are not complying with the country’s laws
# And Cricket: Australia takes command on the second day at the Gabba

# The Madlanga Commission’s Sesi Baloyi says Police minister Senzo Mchunu miscommunication about the disbandment of KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team disrupted the integration of officers. Baloyi stated that Mchunu intended members to join murder and robbery units, while suspended deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya directed them to return to their previous stations. Mchunu maintained he relied on reports showing PKTT members would be absorbed into serious and violent crimes units:

# Deputy minister of Employment and Labour, Jomo Sibiya, says the department needs to compile a list of companies of interest, to pay special attention to them to ensure compliance. The department initiated an inter-departmental high-impact inspection blitz in Gauteng. About 138 employees were issued with compliance notices and prohibition notices at Krunch Limited. The department’s Michael Msiza says that at Devland Cash and Carry, the enterprise failed to issue workers with contracts and underpaid foreign nationals at rates below the National Minimum Wage:

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Trade, Industry and Competition has recommended three people to chair the National Lotteries Commission. They are King Tembinkosi Bonakele, Mpho Mosing and Lufono Toyko Nevondwe. Current chair Barney Pityana quit recently, with two years of his five-year tenure left. A report will now be sent to National Assembly Speaker, Thoko Didiza, to be tabled before and approved by Parliament. The names will then be submitted to the Trade, Industry and Competition minister, Parks Tau, who will make the appointment.

#  Russian president Vladimir Putin and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi have agreed to expand and diversify trade beyond oil and defence, despite Western pressure on India to scale back its ties with Moscow. India is the world’s top buyer of Russian arms and seaborne oil. The country has rolled out the red carpet for Putin during his two-day state visit. Modi says the countries have agreed on an economic cooperation programme up to 2030, which will make trade and investment more diversified, balanced, and sustainable.

# Cricket: Australia had a 44-run first-innings lead over England after the second day of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane. England’s final wicket fell quickly this morning when Jofra Archer was caught for 38 after he and Joe Root frustrated the Australian bowlers with a tenth-wicket partnership of 70 runs. Root was undefeated on 138 and England ended on 334. Australia built steady partnerships, including the fourth-wicket one between Cameron Green and captain Steve Smith worth 95 runs, and reached 378 for six at stumps.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-92-cents and the euro at 19-rand-71-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-58-cents and Bitcoin trades at 91-thousand-54-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-227-dollars-68-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-6-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….