News 17:00

BULLETIN 9 December 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Parliament strengthens legal protection for witnesses against intimidation at inquiries
# Trump’s approval rating rises as Republicans back the cost-of-living efforts
# And rugby: The Stormers get their remaining Boks back before the La Rochelle clash

# National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza says Parliament is strengthening legal protections for witnesses following alleged intimidation during the inquiry into KwaZulu-Natal Police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s claims of police interference in criminal investigations. Speaking on the African Renaissance Podcast hosted by Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, Didiza condemned a threatening message reportedly sent by forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s chief of staff, Cedrick Nkabinde. She urged critics to use proper channels:

# Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister Velenkosini Hlabisa says whistleblower Babita Deokaran’s legacy continues to drive a national reckoning on corruption and the protection of witnesses. Speaking at the inaugural Babita Deokaran Lecture at Stellenbosch University, Hlabisa expressed hope that all those responsible for the killing of witness Marius van der Merwe, known as Witness D, including the masterminds, will face arrest and strong sentencing:

# Six people were arrested after a clandestine drug laboratory worth millions of rands was discovered in Makapanstad in the North West. Members of Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit in the Western Cape, working with Counter-Narcotics and Gangs units, traced information linked to a suspect who had fled in a separate drug proliferation case. Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale says their investigation led them to a smallholding in Thulwe:

# American president Donald Trump’s approval rating edged to 41-percent in the past week as Republicans warmed to his handling of the cost-of-living. A six-day poll by Reuters/Ipsos showed approval rising from 38-percent late last month, which was the lowest since his return to the White House in January. Republicans performed poorly in a handful of state elections last month after being hammered over persistently high inflation. In recent weeks, Trump scaled back some of his tariff increases and pledged to combat high food prices.

# Rugby: The Stormers get their remaining Springboks back for Saturday’s Champions Cup fixture against French outfit La Rochelle in Gqeberha. The team just returned from a victorious tour of Europe where they beat Munster in a United Rugby Championship game in Ireland and Bayonne in France at the start of the Champions Cup season. Ben-Jason Dixon, Ntuthuko Mchunu and Zachary Porthen already returned last week, and will now be joined by national teammates Damian Willemse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Cobus Reinach.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-6-cents and the euro at 19-rand-85-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-73-cents and Bitcoin trades at 90-thousand-577-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-205-dollars-36-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-34-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….